The federal, state and county governments all have had a hand in setting aside thousands of acres of parklands in the two counties. Even city governments offer an assortment of parks like a tiny walled courtyard in DeLand or a rolling lawnscape in Port Orange. Expect to see more of the same in 2000. A number of expansions and improvements are planned. Volusia County continues to explore opportunities to buy beachfront land for parks and parking.
Construction is well underway on a new marine science center in Ponce Inlet.
Apgar said construction should be complete by the end of the year, although the center probably won't be finished. Apgar said they hope to tie together the estuaries and the habitat surrounding the inlet in the center through exhibits, dioramas and both living and static displays. We've been doing a lot of research on turtle tank issues. On the west side, the county plans to break ground on construction of a new park the PFC Emory L. Bennett Memorial Park on the east side of Orange City along the new Veterans Memorial Parkway. We don't know what we can afford yet.