For years, residents in Seminole County worried the land where the now-closed Rolling Hills Golf Club was on would be filled with new homes and roads.

Because of their campaign to stop the development, Seminole County commissioners approved a new plan to keep the land green -- by becoming a park.

  • Rolling Hills Golf Club closed a couple years ago
  • Residents fought attempts to turn it into a development
  • Seminole County will turn it into a park

The old golf course is embedded inside the Rolling Hills neighborhood, which sits near the I-4 and State Road 434 interchange, just north of the Altamonte Mall.

Pauline Pedersen says she loves her home because of scenic views that stretch far beyond her backyard. But a couple of years ago, when the Rolling Hills Golf Club closed, developers proposed building homes on the greenways her backyard backs up to.

“The reason we came here was for the space,” said Pedersen. “The reason we stayed here was for the space and this lovely community. And now all of that was being turned upside down.”

Pedersen and her husband joined other neighbors to fight against development. They went door-to-door urging other neighbors to help them fight against it. They also urged county commissioners to do something to keep the land undeveloped.

“We had huge concerns, not only because of the development, but because of the birds, owls and the water,” said Janice Hurley, a Rolling Hills resident.

After two years of fighting to keep the old golf course green, residents got some great news from county leaders. They found a way to preserve the old golf course as a green space.

“When people come together, we can make things happen,” said Pedersen.

Back in 2010, Oviedo and Winter Springs residents rejected a plan by county leaders to build a park at Jetta Point. After years of opposition to that project, county leaders decided to transfer that project’s grant approval to a project that would allow them to buy the old Rolling Hills course. 

On Feb. 8, the Florida Communities Trust Board granted Seminole County conditional approval for that transfer.

In the last couple of years, Rolling Hills residents say the old golf club hasn’t been maintained. They say the old course and clubhouse have become a magnet for vandalism. Now the county plans to turn the space into a new park, with a picnic pavilion, nature trails and bike access.

Pauline Pedersen says she’ll now be able to get others to grow organic vegetables like she does. She wants to build a community garden in the planned park. She already has her own backyard garden that overlooks the old golf course’s greenways. 

“I want to multiply this so everybody will just be able to come in and eat,” said Pedersen.

“I just think that would be great for kids, for our health, just a really nice feature for us to develop.”

The county is expected to complete its purchase of the old golf course property this spring. Then it will be able to begin maintaining the property, and eventually building the new park.