Seminole County commissioners have advanced plans to transform the long-closed Rolling Hills Golf Club into a public park, with construction expected to start in March. The project, delayed by contamination issues, will create nearly 100 acres of recreational space. Phase one is slated for completion in 2027.
The Rolling Hills Golf Club in Longwood, Florida, originally established in 1926, closed more than a decade ago. Residents opposed plans to develop the site into housing, leading Seminole County to purchase the nearly 100-acre property in 2018 for conversion into a community park.
At a commissioners' meeting on January 27, 2026, officials took further steps toward the $20,360,224 project. Rick Durr, director of the Parks & Recreation Department, stated, “We’ll have signed contracts with the contractor here shortly once the board finishes with business. And then the contractor will start to mobilize according to their contracts and schedule. They would be starting that in earnest in about March.”
Challenges included groundwater and soil remediation due to contamination, which required approvals from multiple state agencies. Durr noted, “There’s just a lot of moving pieces. We’ve had groundwater remediation to deal with. We’ve had soil remediation to deal with. All of that’s been completed, but all of that then goes through the state.”
The development will feature a 4-mile paved trail, landscaping upgrades, pavilions, a pier overlook, parking, and ADA-accessible improvements. It also includes utility and road enhancements, such as reconstructing North Street with a roundabout. Commissioner Andria Herr, who has lived in the area for over 20 years, recalled the site's history during the meeting.
Local resident Luke Fulford, who remembers playing golf there, expressed mixed feelings: “I’m sad that it’s gone, but I’m glad. I’m just glad that they’re not putting in houses. I mean, there might be more traffic, but that’s everywhere.”
Seminole County is pursuing a similar transformation for the Deer Run golf course, purchased in 2021, with design work ongoing.
