A Coral Springs-based company plans to build a 15-acre surf park at the site of a soon-to-close landfill on Avalon Road in West Orange County. The park would be capable of creating waves as high as 10 feet and would include a restaurant, shops, a beach volleyball court, a playground, a pavilion, a surf shop, and an academic center for educational programs.
The company, Ocean Sports Development, plans to invest “several million dollars” on the landfill excavation effort while the development of the surf park is expected to cost $45 million. This would be the company’s first surf park, but Brown said the goal is to open as many as 30 nationwide over the next 20 years.
One of the goals of the surf park is to help establish surfing as an NCAA-sanctioned sport. Surfing debuted as an Olympic sport during the 2020 Tokyo games and has been approved for inclusion for the Paris Summer Olympic Games in 2024.
The proposed wave pool would have a 35-million-gallon water capacity and be surrounded with a beach, support retail, stormwater pond and parking. The pool itself would have a 22-foot high center island to house the wave machine and a 14-foot depth at its center.
Using patented technology, the Ocean Sports Development surf park can create a variety of waves similar to what can be found at the beach. The customer can choose the waves they want or enjoy a randomized experience. The park would be open to the public, at a rate of $100 per 90 minutes or $33 per half hour. Surf boards would be available for rent or purchase.
The project is expected to generate a significant amount of economic activity for Orange County. Brown estimates that the surf park will create 1,000 jobs and generate $20 million in annual revenue for the county.
The surf park is still in the early stages of development, but Brown is confident that it will be a success. He said that the park will be a unique attraction that will draw visitors from all over the world.
Addressing Environmental Concerns
One of the concerns raised about the surf park is its environmental impact. The project site is a former landfill, and some residents are worried about the potential for contamination.
Brown has assured residents that the landfill will be properly remediated before the surf park is built. He said that the company has conducted a number of environmental studies and that the results are positive.
“We’re going to make sure that we’re not going to cause any environmental damage,” Brown said.
Conclusion
The proposed surf park in West Orange County is a unique and exciting project. It has the potential to be a major economic driver for the county and to attract visitors from all over the world.
However, it is important to ensure that the project is developed in a way that minimizes its environmental impact. The company has said that it is committed to environmental protection, and residents should hold them to that commitment.