The meeting began with an emphasis on the burgeoning popularity of tennis and pickleball at Winter Haven’s facility. Memberships have surged fivefold, while class sizes have doubled. Notably, the “Ready for Red” class designed for young children has grown from an average of eight participants to nearly sixteen. Pickleball, in particular, has witnessed a remarkable rise, with reservations tripling since 2021 and walk-up participation increasing from 193 in 2021 to 2,595 in the latest reporting period.

The facility currently hosts 330 members, with 42 dedicated to pickleball, 257 to tennis, and 31 who engage in both sports. The growth in pickleball is characterized by a diverse and mobile player base. As tennis players tend to remain loyal to the Winter Haven Tennis Center, pickleballers often seek various venues, adding complexity to scheduling and court availability. A proposal was introduced to convert underutilized shuffleboard courts into additional pickleball courts, which could potentially double the capacity without requiring additional staffing. This expansion is seen as necessary to manage the increasing number of players and alleviate the current overcrowding issues.

The meeting’s attention then shifted to the ongoing renovations at the Willoughbrook golf course. Despite its temporary closure on June 30, renovations are progressing, with maintenance staff working on improvements like top dressing tee boxes and clearing overgrown areas. The course’s management is optimistic about reopening with temporary greens later this year. The adjacent housing developments and environmental factors such as hurricanes and inflation have posed operational challenges, affecting both revenue and visitor numbers. Nevertheless, the course continues to engage customers through a growing social media presence and a loyalty program offering special rates and perks.

Additional updates provided during the meeting included developments at the Diamond Plex, with a consultant tasked to conduct site evaluations for future pickleball facilities. The increasing popularity of pickleball, with a demographic shift towards younger players, was discussed alongside the potential integration of former tennis professionals into the sport.

Discussion also covered Arc Industries’ request to amend a future land use designation for the Monasuri school, which seeks development approval for the upcoming school year. The commission reviewed a developer’s agreement from May 2019 involving a property sold to BNL Champs, with the CRA board having previously voted to accept this transfer.

The city’s water department presented a request for a comprehensive drinking water asset management plan, necessary for regulatory compliance and long-term planning. A task order to prepare this plan, budgeted at $115,655, was recommended for approval. Additionally, the award of ITB 2523 for constructing reclaimed water transmission mains along County Road 653 was introduced, with construction estimated to start in August at a cost of $2,535,000, partially funded by a grant.

A proposal for acquiring an ecologically property off Highway 17 North was discussed, valued at approximately $1.4 million. The county has pledged $600,000 towards the purchase, aligning with a grant that requires a matching contribution for restoration work.

The meeting also touched on environmental initiatives. A report highlighted recent cleanup events and partnerships with Keep Winter Haven Clean and Beautiful, including a successful Project Eagle event at Lake Ship Park and plans for a World Cleanup Day in September 2025. The introduction of a Lake Defenders League was proposed, aiming to encourage community participation in lake conservation through litter collection, with plans to launch before the 2026 boating season.