Restoring a 1920s Golf Course Into an Ecological Park: A Case Study of the Rolling Hills

Resumen

The Rolling Hills Park project is a Florida Communities Trust (FCT) grant to convert a non-operational golf course to a passive park. Seminole County purchased the 98-acre golf course in August 2018 and maintains the property. The goal of this repurpose project is to apply sound urban ecology design principles to the development of a nature-based recreation park and urban conservation habitat. Through partnership funding from the University of Florida facilitated by the Seminole County extension agent, three students (one undergraduate and two graduate) developed a plan for the park in Summer 2019. Project aspects included: 1) selection of commercially available plant species; 2) total site soil testing; 3)principles for creating habitat; 4) coexisting with wildlife; and 5) a master plan of plant communities and recreation amenities to foster a visually pleasing, urban conservation space. Under the direction of the extension agent and other advisors the students created a Rolling Hills handbook, which outlined the details of their recommendations. At the end of the semester the results were presented to Seminole County staff, decision makers and University of Florida advisors. The county staff was very excited about this work and has since integrated the plan into their master-site planning and implementation. Later in 2019 it was provided to county consultants and other key players in the project. The students used the urban ecological model to address both human activities and conservation needs. They did it in a way that was practical and helpful to the county staff, who were grateful and recognized the value of their work at over $30,000. Additionally, their diligent work will be incorporated into the implementation of the park as the plans are funded annually through the county’s capital improvements budget. The Seminole County extension agent will continue to work and collaborate on this project.