Indian River County approves $6 million purchase of citrus land for future stormwater park

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The county will invest $6 million into building a western-corridor stormwater park. 

County commissioners Tuesday unanimously approved buying 243.5 acres east of Interstate 95 from Premier Citrus. The property, between 82nd and 90th avenues, is adjacent to the county's West Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility, County Administrator Jason Brown said.

The county had planned to buy the property, appraised at $7.3 million, in March, County Attorney Dylan Reingold said. The county approved spending $4.8 million for 286 acres but was unable to close the deal this summer and had to re-negotiate, Reingold told commissioners. 

Citing potential litigation, Reingold declined to comment on the failed original purchase or the higher per-acre price paid now.

Optional sales tax, park impact fees and utility impact fees will be used to pay for the property, Reingold said in a memorandum to county commissioners. The county expects to close on the property by Jan. 17, Brown said. 

Once the county finalizes the purchase,it can begin soliciting designs for the new stormwater park, Brown said. There are no cost estimates, he said. 

The stormwater park would have water storage and recreation areas, similar to the $7.4 million Osprey Acres Stormwater Park and Nature Preserve, which opened last month in the south county, Brown said. The 83.7-acre Osprey Acres, 925 5th St., SW, includes four miles of walking trails.

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