- December 13, 2025
For Palm Coast officials, Tuesday’s workshop was like going window shopping.
As budget season looms, the City Council took a few hours to discuss its 10-year capital improvement funds for items not related to utilities (projects for things other than water, sewer or stormwater).
Top transportation enhancement projects include a multiuse path on Seminole Woods Boulevard, which will cost about $160,000 each year over the next 5-10 years. Some of that is being paid for by grants, but the project — which has been requested by residents for years — remains at the top of the city’s and the Florida Department of Transportation’s wish list.
The project, which will be completed by city crews, will take several years because of the need for bridges and crossings, said Carl Cote, construction manager for the city.
“You can have a project like that go faster, but you’d have to put more funding toward it,” City Manager Jim Landon said, noting that it would cost about $2 million.
Other projects discussed Tuesday include adding two fields to the Indian Trails Sports Complex. Doing so would lure even more athletics tournaments to the area, officials said.
City Councilman Bill McGuire asked staff how much the city has profited from constructing additional fields at the complex. Landon said $0, but he said the overall city’s return on its investment is “over the top.”
“It’s all indirect,” Landon said, adding that the city has seen about $3 million in economic impact since 2009. “As far as hitting the revenue in our bank account, there’s no way I can (calculate) that.”
McGuire followed up by saying he is in support of the expansion at the sports complex.
“I think this is one of the smartest things the city has done in recent years,” he said. “I think you have hit a home run with this one.”
Hitting home runs will soon be able to be seen on scoreboards, too.
Other additions to the Indian Trails Sports Complex over the next two years include scoreboards for the baseball and soccer fields, park cameras and several dugout replacements.
At Ralph Carter Park, the city will remove the baseball infield, the dugout area and the backstop to make room for grass expansion for soccer and flag football. That will likely take place within the current fiscal year's budget and will cost about $3,000.
City officials said there isn’t enough use on the softball area to warrant keeping it.
Looking further into the future, the city has considered adding special facilities, including another sports complex ($22.5 million), an aquatic center ($11.33 million) and a cultural arts center ($13 million).
All of those, however, are past the 10-year plan. From a financial perspective, they “aren’t even a blip on the radar,” according to Finance Director Chris Quinn.
Within the next 10 years, the city will replace Fire Station No. 22 (the station across from the Community Center) and add Fire Station No. 26 (Seminole Woods). Each will cost about $2.675 million.
All of the items mentioned Tuesday were discussed on a preliminary basis. The City Council will make final decisions on next year's projects during budget season in the coming months.
