Keep River Bend Public and preserve nature
The Issue
Keep River Bend Public. Let Nature Stay. Petition to the Ormond Beach City Commission
We, the undersigned, ask the City of Ormond Beach to keep the former River Bend Golf Course property in public ownership and pursue its conversion into a passive nature park for the benefit of all residents.
The former golf course has been closed since 2020, and much of the property has been returning to a more natural state. These approximately 172 acres represent a rare opportunity to preserve a large area of public green space in an increasingly developed community.
River Bend lies beside the environmentally sensitive Tomoka River corridor, with wetlands and wooded areas providing habitat for wildlife. The greater Tomoka River area supports an impressive variety of native Florida wildlife, including white-tailed deer, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, gopher tortoises, alligators, turtles, snakes, hawks, owls, egrets, herons, ospreys, waterfowl and many other native and migratory birds.
Rather than returning this land to an intensively maintained golf course requiring substantial mowing, irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides and other turf-management practices, we believe the City should explore preserving as much of the property as possible in its present natural condition.
A passive nature park could provide walking and nature trails, wildlife observation areas, educational opportunities and public access to nature, while maintaining much of the existing habitat and protecting the natural buffer near the Tomoka River.
We recognize that River Bend is part of the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport property and remains subject to applicable FAA requirements. We therefore ask the City to work with the FAA, FDOT, environmental agencies and the community to determine how a passive nature park can be established while protecting aviation safety and complying with federal airport obligations.
This land already belongs to the public. Let's preserve it for future generations rather than returning it to a single-purpose recreational use.
Our request is simple:
Keep River Bend public.
Protect the wildlife.
Protect the Tomoka River.
Create a nature park for ALL to enjoy.
LET NATURE STAY.
76
The Issue
Keep River Bend Public. Let Nature Stay. Petition to the Ormond Beach City Commission
We, the undersigned, ask the City of Ormond Beach to keep the former River Bend Golf Course property in public ownership and pursue its conversion into a passive nature park for the benefit of all residents.
The former golf course has been closed since 2020, and much of the property has been returning to a more natural state. These approximately 172 acres represent a rare opportunity to preserve a large area of public green space in an increasingly developed community.
River Bend lies beside the environmentally sensitive Tomoka River corridor, with wetlands and wooded areas providing habitat for wildlife. The greater Tomoka River area supports an impressive variety of native Florida wildlife, including white-tailed deer, raccoons, opossums, armadillos, gopher tortoises, alligators, turtles, snakes, hawks, owls, egrets, herons, ospreys, waterfowl and many other native and migratory birds.
Rather than returning this land to an intensively maintained golf course requiring substantial mowing, irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides and other turf-management practices, we believe the City should explore preserving as much of the property as possible in its present natural condition.
A passive nature park could provide walking and nature trails, wildlife observation areas, educational opportunities and public access to nature, while maintaining much of the existing habitat and protecting the natural buffer near the Tomoka River.
We recognize that River Bend is part of the Ormond Beach Municipal Airport property and remains subject to applicable FAA requirements. We therefore ask the City to work with the FAA, FDOT, environmental agencies and the community to determine how a passive nature park can be established while protecting aviation safety and complying with federal airport obligations.
This land already belongs to the public. Let's preserve it for future generations rather than returning it to a single-purpose recreational use.
Our request is simple:
Keep River Bend public.
Protect the wildlife.
Protect the Tomoka River.
Create a nature park for ALL to enjoy.
LET NATURE STAY.
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Petition created on September 25, 2026