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August 20, 2007
The City of Longwood completed a comprehensive master plan for the City’s parks and recreation lands and facilities, in spring of 2001. The master plan encompassed a park inventory, assessed the condition of recreation facilities within the City’s eight parks and proposed improvements. To date, the City has added Magnolia Park and renovated Sandalwood Park. The final improvements are being completed at Smallworld Park, which has doubled in size with the addition of new playground equipment, a regulation-size basketball court and a pavilion. New playground equipment has been ordered and will be installed in the next few months at Highland Hills Park and Shadow Hill Park.
Reiter Park has been a much-anticipated project. The plan for this downtown park will provide both active and passive activities. The design phase has been a long process due in part to the St. Johns River Water Management District’s permitting process and to the discovery of debris and muck several feet below the surface in a portion of the park.
The SJRWMD required the dry retention area originally designed for the park to be re-designed and re-engineered into a wet retention area before the project could be permitted. The larger, wet retention pond is necessary to adequately address the high water table and storm water runoff.
The debris and muck found below the surface also required re-engineering before the project could be put out to bid and a contract awarded. The debris and muck is located in the area of the park where tennis courts, a restroom and drive way will be built. The thickness of the debris and muck ranges from two to fifteen feet. Under the tennis court and driveway, the engineers have elected to use geotextiles, a woven permeable fabric that is used for reinforcement. Under the restroom, foundation pin-piles or helical piers will be used for support.
Now that all of these design and engineering issues have been addressed, the project can move forward. It is anticipated the bid package will be advertised by mid-September and a contract awarded in December. The construction should begin shortly after the first of the year. The project will take nine to twelve months to complete once the project begins.
When completed, Reiter Park will be a multi-generational park - a park where all citizens of Longwood can gather. The young and young-at-heart will be able to play basketball, tennis and skateboard. Playground equipment will provide a place where all children, regardless of mobility, will be able to play and socialize. Around the park will be a paved walkway for leisurely walking, fitness walking/jogging and ten LifeTrail fitness stations. LifeTrail equipment provides enjoyable strengthening, flexibility and balance activities that address the major components of a well-rounded fitness program for active, older adults. There will be a large pavilion for family gatherings and an open-air pavilion for entertainment. Open space will provide an area for kicking a ball around or leisurely enjoying fresh air and sunshine. Reiter Park will truly be a community park.
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On April 10th, 2007, new construction began at Smallworld park, located on 300 Wayman Ave., to enhance the recreational atmosphere for the citizens of Longwood. The park now has a basketball court, new playground equipment, and a pavilion. Landscaping and walkway areas have also been improved to add aesthetic value as well as better access areas to the park. 
