VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Volusia County is moving ahead with plans for a 350-acre motocross facility off State Road 44. The project would include motocross tracks, RV parking and an event space. The county gave the green light this week but faces pushback from some residents and environmental groups.
Volusia County is now looking for a partner to manage the motocross facility. Officials hope this partnership will help cover operational costs.
“Everybody is moving this way. Clermont, Orlando, you have a lot of pros that live out there and the facilities are there, so we are like a new hub of motocross,” JC Figueredo said.
[WATCH PREVIOUS COVERAGE BELOW: Volusia County approves $4.6M motocross facility proposal near gun club]
Figueredo said motocross families in Volusia currently have to drive all over the state to ride or create small backyard tracks, but he has some hesitations about how it’s being built.
“It’s much needed. An outdoor recreation sports area like this. A lot of other cities and counties have things like it. There’s not a lot where the county or government gets involved in that type of business,” he said.
Some residents voiced concerns to the county council about the county buying the land and paying for the project. The county council has set aside $3.5 million in ECHO funds for it.
Others argue the site is a major wildlife corridor and worry the project could be harmful.
The overall cost and timeline for the project are not set in stone. The county council voted this week to hire a consultant who will find a company to run the facility in a public-private partnership with the county.
“This is not some novel idea I had — they’re already doing this in Polk County, in South Florida several counties have it, Croom is a state park, Ocala has an area,” said Councilman Don Dempsey, who originally proposed the motocross park.
Dempsey said the project should not come out of general funds but from ECHO, a fund approved by voters more than 20 years ago for outdoor recreational activities.
The consultant is expected to present partnership models and financial options by December.
[SEE COVERAGE FROM 2024: Neighbors concerned over proposed motocross track in Volusia County]