By Rod Olsen
In Summary:
In his open letter to the Apopka City Council, Rod Olsen raises concerns about the City's decision to issue RFP 2026-A-275 for fields at the Northwest Recreational Complex, marking the first time a non-profit youth sports organization has been subjected to a competitive bid process. The writer questions disparities in rental rates and the suspension of negotiations with Central Florida Soccer Club while other organizations secured long-term agreements at significantly lower costs. The piece calls for the City to pause the RFP, adopt transparent field rental policies, and ensure equitable treatment for all youth athletic programs.
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Mayor and Commissioners,
I respectfully urge the City of Apopka to reconsider competitively bidding the Northwest Recreational Complex (NWRC) fields at this time. Any decision to issue a bid should evaluate not only the fiscal impact, but also the increased wear and tear that could limit Apopka children’s access to play in their own community park.
Related: Level the playing field: Apopka soccer club questions rental rates at Northwest Recreation Complex.
RFP 2026-A-275 represents the first time the City has subjected a non-profit youth sports organization to a competitive bid process. Currently, there is no clearly communicated written policy governing field rentals, and the existing approach appears inconsistent and lacks transparency.
Key questions remain:
- Why were negotiations with Central Florida Soccer Club suspended while agreements were finalized with three other youth sports programs?
- If competitive bidding is beneficial, why is it not applied to all youth programs?
- Why has Central Florida Soccer Club been singled out?
The City should direct Parks and Recreation to pursue an amicable agreement consistent with the terms and rates provided to the three other non-profit youth organizations. At a minimum, the City should suspend the current RFP process until the proposed additional fields are within 30 days of being playable.
All Apopka youth athletic programs should operate under consistent field rental agreements with equitable rates reflecting actual maintenance costs. Significant disparities currently exist.
Field Rental Rate Comparison
- Apopka Little League — $1.48–$2.22 per hour per field (avg. $1.85), 5-year agreement
- Rents 6 fields but uses 12
- No additional charge for games
- Requires substantial maintenance, including infield grooming, frequent relining, and fence installation/removal
- Apopka Pop Warner — $2.02 per hour per field, 5-year agreement
- No additional charge for games
- Apopka Raptors AAU — $2.99 per hour per field, 5-year agreement
- Rents 1 field but uses 5–6
- No additional charge for games
- Central Florida Soccer Club — $25 per hour per field
- An additional $25 per hour per field for games
These rates show that Central Florida Soccer Club pays approximately 8–16 times more for use of the same facilities. While club participation fees may be higher, those costs largely reflect the City's substantially higher rental rates. All youth sports organizations pass participation costs on to families through fees, tournaments, and competition expenses.
Additionally, the City’s recreational soccer program ends at age 14, leaving youth ages 14–19 who wish to continue playing with club programs as their only option.
Concerns Regarding the Current RFP
The City paused negotiations with Central Florida Soccer Club for more than a year while simultaneously executing five-year agreements with other organizations at significantly lower rates. This raises concerns about consistency, transparency, and fairness.
Questions also exist regarding the timing and scope of RFP 2026-A-275. The RFP covers three fields, despite Central Florida Soccer Club historically renting four fields over the past five years and utilizing multiple configurations for more than a decade.
The sequence of related events further warrants careful review. While circumstances may be coincidental, the appearance of inconsistency underscores the need for transparency and equal opportunity.
Community Contributions
Central Florida Soccer Club has demonstrated significant community impact by:
- Providing over $35,000 annually in financial assistance to youth participants
- Partnering with Under Armor Under the Lights Flag Football to serve 150 children who would otherwise have to travel outside Apopka
- Supporting graduation volunteer requirements at Apopka High School
- Providing coaches for City recreation programs when needed
- Offering free training for City recreation coaches and participants
- Supporting NAOMI Kids
- Donating over 5,000 food items annually to local elementary school food pantries
- Sponsoring teacher appreciation initiatives and providing gifts for students in need
- Hosting free Friday night open play
Key Considerations
- Central Florida Soccer Club is a qualified non-profit serving Apopka for over a decade, providing athletic and personal development for approximately 1,000 youth, including significant female participation.
- Central Florida Soccer Academy is a for-profit organization established just over a year ago, serving approximately 70 boys.
- Even under optimal conditions, additional fields are unlikely to be playable by August 1, 2026.
- If competitive bidding is appropriate, all NWRC fields should be subject to the same process.
- The City should ensure equitable treatment of all youth organizations while prioritizing access for Apopka’s children.
In closing, I respectfully urge the City of Apopka to take immediate steps to ensure fairness, transparency, and consistency in decisions affecting youth athletics. All organizations serving Apopka’s children deserve equitable treatment, clear policies, and equal opportunity. I ask the City to suspend the current RFP process, establish a transparent field rental policy, and ensure that access to community resources is guided by what best serves our youth and families.
Thank you for your time, your service, and your careful consideration of these concerns.
Key Points:
- RFP 2026-A-275 is the first competitive bid process involving a non-profit youth sports group at NWRC.
- The op-ed cites significant differences in rental rates among local youth organizations.
- The writer questions why the Central Florida Soccer Club was treated differently from other groups.
- Concerns are raised about access to fields for youth ages 14–19.
- The piece urges the City to suspend the RFP and implement clear, consistent policies for all programs.
