Alexander Island Park Given Exceptional Grant Status

One year ago the City of DeBary purchased 170 acres of undeveloped land along the St. John's River for $3.5 million to create a passive park for DeBary residents and visitors - now called Alexander Island. The Volusia County Environmental, Cultural, Historical, and Outdoor Recreation (ECHO) Advisory Committee, which met on Friday, February 16, voted  7 - 2 in favor of giving Exceptional Grant Status to Phase 1 of the project. The $2.5 million "exceptional grant" is a voter-approved county initiative that funds environmental, cultural, historical, and outdoor recreation projects.

The City purchased the property from a private group seeking to sell to residential developers. Alexander Island had a future land use allowing for 64 homes to be built on the property. State property rights statutes prohibit local governments from making changes to future land uses without the property owner's consent. Now, owned outright by DeBary, the City will create a passive recreation park.

As well as serving as a park, Alexander Island — also known as Riverbend South — will be the site of a research and education center operated by the Aquatic Preserve Alliance, a private nonprofit environmental organization. The Department of Environmental Protection's Weikiva River Aquatic Reserve approached the City about opening a freshwater research and education center on the northernmost 10 acres of the property. If successful, the green building will house permanent researchers at Alexander Island, and be open for school field trips and visitors.

Planned upgrades include an elevated walkway on the berm along the perimeter and picnic tables. The project also calls for canoes and kayaks for recreational purposes. The city is in the process of reviewing engineering designs, and they expect to start construction of the park entrance, parking lot, restrooms and nature trail between June and December.