Outdoor Recreation Economy Topic of Volusia ‘Q’ Breakfast

Leisure activities and parks and recreation are not all fun and games. They are also big business and an economic driver for Volusia County. That was the message at the latest Volusia County Economic Development “Q” Breakfast.

The event, held in the Dennis McGee Room at Daytona Beach International Airport, featured Volusia County Parks & Recreation Director Tim Baylie and Volusia County Coastal Division Director Jessica Fentress touting the county’s extensive outdoor recreation facilities and a look to the future.

County Economic Development Director Lou Paris kicked off the morning meeting with a review of the economic impact of outdoor recreation activities across the country and in Volusia. Paris said outdoor activities contribute $500 billion to the U.S. economy, accounting for 2.2% of the nation’s gross domestic product and are responsible for nearly five million jobs.

Statewide, Florida is ranked seventh in the nation in outdoor recreation and leisure activities contribute $52 billion to the state’s GDP.

“They are a big driver in our economy,” he said, with nearly a half million people employed statewide in outdoor recreation related jobs.

In a question-and-answer format presentation, Paris began by asking Baylie and Fentress about the county’s hidden outdoor recreation gems.

For Baylie, those gems are the canoe and kayak facilities in Ormond Beach as well as Beck Ranch Park in Osteen.

The 25-axcre Beck Ranch Park is located on the site of a former cattle ranch and includes two multipurpose fields, a dog park, pavilions with picnic tables and grills, volleyball courts a features large live oak trees and Florida-friendly landscaping.

Fentress cited Smyrna Dunes Park and Bethune Park, the latter a gem located near Canaveral National Seashore in New Smyrna Beach.

“You are guaranteed to see manatees every single day (at Bethune Park),” she said. “It’s a great little piece of public park.”

Highlighting some of the many outdoor assets in the county, Bayle said the Volusia trails program has grown tremendously over the years with 92 miles on the ground today.

“Trails would be No. 1 to me,” he said.

For Fentress, the answer was quick and easy: the beach.

While everybody knows Daytona Beach is the world’s most famous beach, Fentress said Volusia County also has the world’s most accessible beach, with 174 access points.

“Nothing on our coastline is private,” she said. “You basically have a Super Bowl event on 37 miles of beach. Something I’m very proud of and passionate about is our public access to beaches.”

For the future, Baylie said the county is working on the development of new facilities to support outdoor recreation.

“We have been tasked with looking at developing a sports complex in southwest Volusia County,” he said. The facility would bring more playing fields and facilities to that part of the county and contribute to the growing sports tourism industry in the county.