The City of Apopka’s application to secure Orange County Tourism Development Tax (TDT) funding received the top score out of all applications by the TDT Application Review Committee at their tentative scoring meeting at the Orange County Commission Chambers.
The City of Apopka’s application titled “Northwest Rec: 2025 and Beyond” outlined a $13.1 million proposal to expand the Northwest Recreation Complex located at 3710 Jason Dwelley Parkway, Apopka, FL 32712 by bringing four new softball fields with associated amenities and expanded amenity upgrades to the Apopka Amphitheater. The application was prepared by the Apopka Parks and Recreation Department and presented to the TDT Application by Apopka Parks and Recreation Director Radley Williams. The application highlighted the existing and future impacts the Northwest Recreation Complex has on Orange County tourism and the local economy. In 2023, the complex hosted over 58,000 visitors across 58 sports tournaments and over 31,000 visitors across 15 concerts.
“We are excited for the TDT grant opportunity to add four additional softball fields and make our Amphitheater more user-friendly, allowing Apopka’s Northwest Complex to be one of Central Florida’s premier outdoor facilities,” says Mayor Bryan Nelson.
Orange County Commissioner Christine Moore was also excited.
"During the eight months of discussions about how to better spend TDT dollars, it became apparent that the BCC was interested in funding facilities outside of the Orlando Urban Core," said Moore, the District 2 Commissioner who represents all of Apopka. "I immediately phoned Mayor Nelson and Parks Director Williams and my other cities in District 2. I’m proud of the City of Apopka’s superior application for the Northwest Recreation Complex especially as it was their first attempt to receive funding from Orange County’s robust tourist development tax. I look forward to advocating this fall for the Apopka project during the final BCC vote."
Next steps in the process:
The TDT Application Review Committee will hold its final scoring meeting on September 13th at 9 AM in the Orange County Commission Chambers. At this meeting, the committee’s final recommendation will be drafted and approved for submission to the Tourist Development Council and the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. The Orange County Board of County Commissioners is set to decide on the final awarding of the TDT funding at a meeting in early October.
About the Orange County Tourism Development Tax Application Review Committee: The ARC reviews grant applications and makes recommendations to the Tourist Development Council, with the final decision being made by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners. The capital project grant request should be for a dollar amount in excess of $2 million and up to and including $15 million toward a project for the acquisition, construction, expansion, enlargement, renovation, and equipping of eligible facilities.
