THE SALT SPRINGS CIVIC PARK
In 1981, the Marion County Commission purchased an 8.75 acre tract of land on the south side of CR 316 in Salt Springs. The Salt Springs Lions Club, in cooperation with the County Commission, undertook the development of the property as a park for citizens of the Springs community. This involved a substantial amount of volunteer work and expense by the organization
and its members. A volunteer Fire Department was also established on the site providing the only fire protection for the area. To support these activities, funds
were raised through a number of activities, including an annualCommunity Festival beginning in 1991. In 1990, the County Commission also added a small building on the western end of the site for use as a Community Center. However, in 1995, the Lions Club disbanded and no existing organization was available to take over the responsibility for operation and maintenance of the Park. At that point, some of the previous Lions Club members, along with other members of the community, formed the Salt Springs Civic Association in order to continue the operation of the Park. In July, 1995, the County Commission entered into a lease with
the Salt Springs Civic Association for the purpose of the Association
operating a public park for the citizens of the Salt Springs area. The
Park was to be operated as a part of the Marion County Park System
and all facilities and improvements to the leased area were to be recognized as property of Marion County government. The property covered by the lease included a major portion of the
8.75 acre parcel and also included the Community Center building. The term of the lease was for thirty years with an option for the Association to renew the lease upon its termination for an additional ten
years. The agreement also provided that the lease could be terminated
at any time by the Association by giving 90 days notice to the Marion County Commission. There was also a provision included that allowed the Commission to terminate the lease if a determination was made at any time that the property was needed for an essential public purpose. Shortly after, in November, 1995, the Association was restructured
as a non-profit corporation by the Department of State of the
State of Florida. The initial officers of the Association included:
President—Peggy Macklin
Vice President—Derek Williams
Secretary—Joe Massey
Treasurer—Joan Schneider
Chaplin—Steve McCreary
The Association applied for a grant from the Marion County Parks
and Recreation Department through their Sweat Equity Program,
based on the many hours of volunteer service and expenses incurred
by the Lions Club during the time they operated the Park. The grant
awarded funds to build a tennis court, a regulation size basketball
court, and a sand volleyball court. These additions to the Park were
completed by the end of 1996. Over the twenty years since that date, the Civic Association has
upgraded the Park equipment and facilities; made numerous improvements; and assumed all operating and maintenance costs, including utilities, much of which has been accomplished through volunteer services by residents of the Salt Springs Community. During this period, the County has also made improvements to the Park including a play area for young children. The County has estimated the costs of these improvements as $21,000. During this period the County also added buildings on the east end of the property to house a District Sheriff’s office and a County Fire Department facility complete with paramedics to serve the Springs area. The relationship between the Civic Association and the Marion
County Parks and Recreation Department is unique. Of the 38 Parks
in the Marion County System, only four are operated in cooperation
with local organizations. Three of these are operated through limited
partnership agreements between the Commission and the organization. Only one—the Salt Springs Civic Park—is operated through a
lease agreement as described above. In early 2016, the Association modified its Articles of Incorporation
to comply with IRS requirements for status as an 501(3)c. non-profit
organization, and filed an application for such designation. On June
16, 2016 the Internal Revenue Service approved the application of
the Association. This action made all future contributions to the Association tax-exempt and enabled the Association to apply for grants
from individuals and foundations which require applicants to have 501
(c)3. During the 2016 year the Marion County government commissioned
a private consulting firm to do an assessment of all the parks
in the Marion County system and identify the needs of each over the
next ten-year period. The report from that group was subsequently
approved by the County Commission as a ten-year plan for upgrading
and improving all parks in the Marion County System. The report recommended $357,800 in improvements for the Salt
Springs Civic Park, including the following specific projects:
1. A shade structure over the children’s playground.
2. More benches near the playground and other facilities.
4. Additional restrooms and water fountains.
5. Additional trees for shade throughout the Park. The Civic Association is in the process of finalizing a Three-Year
Master Plan for operation and improvement of the Civic Park as well
as other activities designed to promote and support the local community
and our local residents. If you are not a member of the Association, we would welcome
having you as part of our organization. The Association depends
heavily on membership dues and volunteer services to operate and
maintain the Park for the community. Annual dues are only $20 for individuals and $35 for businesses. We hold public meetings on the third Monday of January, April,
July, and October of each year. At each meeting we try to present an
informative program on matters important to the community. All meetings
are held at the Community Center at the west end of Salt Springs
Civic Park. Our meetings are open to the general public—you do not
have to be a member.
