- December 4, 2025
Ormond Beach's Cassen Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ormond Beach City Manager Joyce Shanahan, center. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ormond Beach City Commissioner Travis Sargent, at Ormond Beach's Cassen Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ormond Beach's Cassen Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
Volusia County Councilman Troy Kent. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ormond Beach's Cassen Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
City Commissioner Kristin Deaton. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ike Leary. Photo by Brian McMillan
City Commissioner Lori Tolland, Ormond Beach Chamber President Debbie Cotton, Volusia County Councilman Troy Kent. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ormond Beach Mainstreet's Johnny Long. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ormond Beach's Cassen Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ormond Beach's Cassen Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ormond Beach's Cassen Park. Photo by Brian McMillan
Ormond Beach City Commissioner Lori Tolland, Volusia County Councilman Troy Kent, Commissioners Harold Briley, Kristin Deaton and Travis Sargent, and Mayor Jason Leslie. Photo by Brian McMillan
With the Granada Bridge rising and dipping into the horizon behind them, Ormond Beach’s elected officials took turns at the microphone to celebrate the reopening of Cassen Park. Featuring a new alignment at the corner of Granda Boulevard and Beach Street, the park's new Medjool palms line up with the front door of City Hall.
Thus the park feels like, as City Commissioner Lori Tolland put it, “the front lawn of City Hall, a seamless connection between nature and civic life.”
After the general contractor, designers and architect (Coleman Goodemote Construction, Zev Cohen & Associates, and Hall & Ogle Architects Inc.) were given a round of applause at the July 30 ribbon cutting ceremony, the City Commission took turns celebrating with brief speeches.
“This is a proud day for Ormond Beach and for everyone who loves Cassen Park,” Mayor Jason Leslie said. “This park has always held a special place in our city. It's where families launch their boats, where anglers spend early mornings, and we all come to enjoy the beauty of the Halifax River. It’s an integral part of our beautiful little oasis by the sea.”
The $2.5 million park was funded entirely through the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area's tax increment financing.
The park features a newly designed bait shop, which is double the size of the original, along with native plants that are salt-water tolerant and can withstand the flooding that is likely to happen during hurricane-level storms, according to Zev Cohen engineer Dwight Durant.
The park, Leslie said, “was built with purpose, with improved storm readiness, and an eye for modernization.”
There are more boat trailer parking spots, as well as enhanced electrical equipment, so that the bridge could one day be lighted.
“There are still finishing touches to come, like the flag pole and new signage, but today we pause to appreciate how far this park has come,” Leslie said. “Cassen Park is one of the true gems of Ocean Beach. This redesign honors its history and prepares it for the next generation to enjoy.”
Tolland called the park “a beautiful space that reflects collaboration between many stakeholders. This is a community vision.”
She especially praised the native plants and the design, saying: “Every inch of this park feels intentional, welcoming, and rooted in the town we love.”
City Commissioner Travis Sargent praised the teamwork that was required to make the park happen. He also thanked the long-time bait shop manager whose name is on the building.
“Ike Leary, I know it wasn’t easy, man,” Sargent said. “Lots of long nights, early mornings. Thank you for your patience.”
Sargent continued: “Today we are not just cutting a ribbon. We're opening the door to new memories, new adventures, and a stronger connection to the beautiful riverfront that we all love.”
Commissioner Kristin Deaton spoke next, praising the landscaping and ecosystem.
“From the boating ramp to the bridge walking path and of course Ike’s Bait Shop, there's something for everyone to enjoy here,” she said.
Commissioner Harold Briley said it was a nostalgic moment, since he is the one who suggested in 1997 that the park’s name be changed from Riverfront Park to Cassen Park, in honor of former Mayor Ernest Cassen.
“I had the privilege to know Mayor Cassen,” Briley said. “He was a great man, a great leader serving our city for 26 years on our City Commission, 16 of which as mayor, and he helped shape Ormond Beach into what it is today.”
Volusia County Councilman Troy Kent, who served on the Ormond Beach City Commission for 19 years before moving to the county government, praised the teams that put the project together — as well as the tax incremental funding process that made it financially possible. If anyone doubts TIF effectiveness, he said, “just pay attention to Ormond Beach and how they do it, because this is the model.”
Aside from the officials and design team that made the park possible, Kent praised the entire community.
“The residents of Ormond Beach give the nod and the approval to projects like this,” he said. “You say, ‘Yes, we want this in our community.’ … I'm just going to say … use this stuff. Come out here. Get on a boat.”
