Seminole County to purchase abandoned golf course

Seminole County has approved the purchase the abandoned golf course Rolling Hills in Longwood. [Courtesy: Orlando Sentinel]

The Seminole County Commission on Tuesday approved the county's purchase of Rolling Hills, a 98 acre former golf course in unincorporated Longwood, at the purchase price of $3.99 million. 

The county hopes to redevelop Rolling Hills, which closed in 2004, into a public recreational park. Phase I of the project includes the addition of nature trails, a picnic pavilion, signage, vehicle and bike parking, pedestrian and bike access, as well as landscape improvements in natural areas.

Potential future phased projects for the park may include passive open spaces, fishing dock/areas, disc/foot golf, and a dog park. Playgrounds, gardens and sand volleyball courts are also included in the potential long-term plans for the property. 

The purchase of the Rolling Hills property was contingent upon approval from the Florida Communities Trust (FCT) exchanging a previously awarded grant to Rolling Hills. This type of land exchange is the first of its kind in FCT history, the county says.