- April 25, 2024
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The Volusia County Council approved $3.86 million in ECHO grants on Tuesday, Jan. 18, which will go toward nine projects throughout the county, the bulk of which will go toward neighboring Holly Hill's Pictona project.
Holly Hill requested a $2.5 million grant, considered a "exceptional grant," for phase II of the pickleball complex. The city plans to add 24 more courts, a championship court, stadium and an education center, and put forth a $3.3 total match for the project. The council approved the grant request 6-1, with County Council Chair Jeff Brower voting against.
Brower said he didn't think the Pictona project had enough countywide support to merit an exceptional grant from ECHO, a voter-approved county initiative that funds environmental, cultural, historical and outdoor recreation projects. He also stated that there was a public perception that the city of Holly Hill was being given "special treatment," as its match was comprised of Community Redevelopment Area funds and in 2012, an ECHO grant request from the city of Daytona Beach was turned down for that reason. He also thought its feasibility study, a requirement for an exceptional grant, was not as extensive as the feasibility study for the stadium at Earl Brown Park in DeLand, which was the last recipient of an ECHO exceptional grant, approved by the council in 2012.
“I think Pictona is an excellent endeavor," Brower said. "... I think it’s going to grow. I think it’s already put Holly Hill on the map. My struggle is I don’t think it rises to the level of an exceptional grant.
The rest of the council was in favor of the grant request. Volusia County Councilwoman Heather Post, whose district includes Holly Hill, said Pictona has proven to be a successful project, with influence both locally, regionally and internationally, having hosted numerous pickleball tournaments.
“They’ve already proven that they’re way ahead of the game," Post said. "They’re looking to get to the endgame."
Councilwoman Barb Girtman said the project can be a great model for the community.
“I like what it’s doing for Holly Hill," she said. "I think it’s a part of a resurgence and a re-envisioning of Holly Hill, and I think those types of investments are what we need in our community.”
Holly Hill had previously acquired a $400,000 ECHO grant for the first phase of Pictona.
“Holly Hill doesn’t come asking for much, but this project well extends outside of our boundaries, across the county, and I can’t tell you the amount of conversations I have every single day with people throughout the county, not from our own city, that tell me the benefits of [Pictona]," said Holly Hill Mayor Chris Via to the council.
In addition, the council also approved the following ECHO grant requests:
