APOPKA, Fla. — The Tourist Development Tax Application Review committee recommended full funding for Apopka's request for a $13.1 million grant to expand the Northwest Recreation Complex and make amenity upgrades to the Apopka Amphitheater.
What You Need To Know
- Apopka's request for a $13.1 million grant gets approval of Tourist Development Tax Application Review Committee
- The Apopka Parks and Recreation Department seeks to expand the Northwest Recreation Complex, upgrade the amphitheater
- The city's request said the complex and amphitheater has brought in nearly 90 people for sports tournaments and concerts
- The request will go before the full Tourist Development Council next week, and if approved, to the Orange County Commission on Oct. 29
Apopka's Parks and Recreation Department seeks to add four new softball fields and make the amphitheater more user-friendly.
According to the request, the Northwest Recreation Complex hosted 58 sports tournaments and attracted more than 58,000 visitors and the amphitheater featured 15 concerts that brought in more than 31,000 people in 2023.
Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson said the upgrades would help the recreation complex become "one of Central Florida’s premier outdoor facilities."
The final recommendations of the review committee will be submitted to the Tourist Development Council at its meeting Sept. 27, and final recommendations will be submitted for approval by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners at their Oct. 29 meeting.
The grants are awarded for capital projects and events.
Funding comes from the Tourist Development Tax, a 6% fee assessed on short-term rentals and hotels in Orange County. By state law, TDT funds are to be used to benefit the tourism industry.
Some projects that received TDT funds include the Kia Center, the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, Camping World Stadium, the Orlando Science Center and the Zora Neal Hurston Festival in Eatonville.