Officials will soon start the design and permitting process as planning for the massive Bulow Creek Headwaters Regional Park project nears completion.
The Flagler Board of County Commissioners May 18 heard an update on the project’s status — a nearly 1,200-acre piece of undeveloped nature preserve that officials say will be incorporated with “resource-based recreation.”
With the idea of maintaining and managing the site as a nature preserve, the project aims to give visitors a chance to explore the natural beauty of the area by connecting regional trail networks; a new trailhead with parking area and restrooms; a kayak/canoe launch; picnic areas; and wildlife observation platforms.
The site is defined by Bulow Creek to the east, State Road 100 to the north, various parcels fronting Old Kings Road to the west, and the Polo Club neighborhood to the south.
Here’s what you need to know about the Bulow Creek Headwaters Regional Park project.
What will Bulow Creek Regional Park look like?
The approximately 1,185 acres is home to a vast natural preserve adjacent to Bulow Creek.
In November 2024, Flagler County hired Daytona Beach-based engineering firm Kimley-Horn to “complete the planning portion of this project,” according to officials.
That plan consists of a few main components for the project:
Other elements throughout the project include environmental educational opportunities, such as through QR code stations, signs, interactive kiosks and more.
How much will Bulow Creek Regional Park cost?
The project is a partnership between the county and the Florida Department of Transportation District 5.
The state agency will provide funding for the effort through its Local Agency Program (or LAP), covering both the planning and upcoming design and permitting phases. That cost is around $570,000 according to staff.
A total price tag for the project is still uncertain, as construction costs might vary. According to a presentation from Kimley-Horn, the total could fall between $28 and $40 million.
The north-south multi-use trail is likely to be the first phase of the project and cost between $8 million and $12 million by itself. The county plans to seek grant opportunities to fund construction.
Is the Bulow Creek Regional Park project connected to the Summertown, floodplain deal?
No.
“Although adjacent to the park, the Bulow Creek Floodplain Addition parcel has not been included as part of this project,” the county’s natural resource manager, Erick Revuelta, told The News-Journal in an email.
The area in question consists of 153 acres of floodplain land at Bulow Creek, which is within the Summertown development boundaries. The developer agreed to give the county three years to lockdown the funds to purchase the land for the purpose of preservation.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Planned Bulow Creek park to include trailhead, kayak launch, more
Reporting by Brenno Carillo, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
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