WINDERMERE, Fla. – Windermere is investing more than $1.4 million in a stormwater infrastructure project aimed at protecting two of its most flood-prone roads—Bessie Street and Butler Street —while preserving the rustic charm of its historic dirt streets.
The town council unanimously approved the construction contract on July 8. The project, funded by the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, will be carried out by Valencia Construction Group, the lowest responsive bidder.
Work will begin after final approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and is expected to take about 210 days.
The upgrades will improve water flow, reduce storm damage, and help keep roads open during heavy rain and severe weather.
“Part of what we’re doing is developing a road system that pitches water to the sides, rather than letting it run down the middle, which causes washout,” said John Fitzgibbons, the town’s civil engineer. “We’ll add swales and pretreatment systems like rain gardens to carry and filter runoff safely.”
Fitzgibbons said the project also includes replacing the existing road base with a newly tested material that compacts more effectively, holds up in storms, and maintains a similar dirt-road look.
“For us, it’s about preserving charm while improving safety,” Fitzgibbons said. “We’ve had meeting after meeting to make sure that as we’re improving drainage, we’re not taking away the things residents love most about Windermere.”
He acknowledged the drawbacks of dirt roads, including dust during dry months and mud during the wet season, but said residents accept those in exchange for the town’s natural, rural feel.
“We as residents love our dirt roads, so we’re willing to take those sacrifices,” Fitzgibbons said.
The improvements also include stormwater diversion from nearby Eighth and Ninth avenues, with runoff redirected to a rain garden near the parkway. That feature adds an environmental benefit—filtering pollutants before they reach the lake system.
“If nothing else, we’re making the roads more reliable during emergencies,” Fitzgibbons said. “And while the dirt road may leave your hands just the tiniest bit dirty, it’s actually a large part of why residents love the Town of Windermere so much.”
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