Windermere football fans: Parking is about to get a lot harder

Orange County is no longer allowing cars to park on the grass for football games, Windermere High Principal Andrew Leftakis said.

By Michael Eng
| 6:39 p.m. September 12, 2022

West Orange Times & Observer
News

PARKING AREA AGREEMENT

During the term of this Agreement, the Parking Area may be occupied and used by the School Board to provide vehicular and bus parking (not to exceed 5 buses) in connection with any of the School Board's uses of then Stadium as provided herein for two hours before such event is scheduled to commence until two hours after it is scheduled to conclude, subject to the concurrent use of the Parking Area, space permitting, by the County in connection with activities at the multi-purpose field and other areas of JSP Park. Similarly, if the County has scheduled a County Permitted Stadium Use, the County shall have the exclusive right to use the Parking Area in connection with such County Permitted Stadium Use for two hours before such event is scheduled to commence until two hours after it is scheduled to conclude, subject to the concurrent use by the School Board space permitting. If there is insufficient parking available during any of the School Board's Permitted Stadium Uses, either for the School Board patrons or County JSP Park visitors, the County hereby authorizes the use of the multi-purpose field for overflow parking; provided, however, the County reserves the right to terminate such authorization in its sole discretion including, but not limited to, based upon damage to the multi-use field caused by such parking. The School Board acknowledges and agrees that if parking demands dictate, it may need to provide overflow parking at the Relief High School with public transportation to the Stadium.

As if having the Windermere High School stadium off-campus didn’t cause enough problems, Orange County now has made it more difficult for Wolverine fans to watch football games.

According to a message sent to parents by Principal Andrew Leftakis, effective immediately, Orange County has revoked the school’s ability to park on the grass at Deputy Scott Pine Community Park.

“Additionally, there has been a number of safety issues out on the roadways due to spectators trying to park or drop students off,” he said.

Because of these developments, all spectators for varsity football games will have to park at the school in the student and visitor parking lots. Then, they will have to walk the sidewalk in front of the school to the bus loop. There, they can catch a shuttle to Deputy Scott Pine Community Park.

Parking at the park will be reserved for volunteers, law enforcement, officials, coaching staff, media personnel, vendors and staff workers.

Spectators with a disabled driver hanger will be allowed to park at the stadium.

“As we prepare for our upcoming home game this Friday … please plan accordingly,” Leftakis said.

The message did not include operating procedures for leaving the stadium in the event of lightning or other dangerous weather activity.

According to Orange County Parks and Recreation Division Manager Matt Suedmeyer, the division revoked grass parking, because of the damage done to the field during the last home game, Aug. 26.

“The Parks and Recreation Division made the decision to close the multi-purpose field to car parking due to the amount of damage the fields received during the last football game,” Seudmeyer said. “With all the rain we have had lately the field is just not suitable for parking.

“Per the agreement between the county and OCPS, the county has the right to stop utilizing the multi-purpose field for parking if the field is damaged,” he said.

Anyone with questions or comments regarding this change can contact Orange County District 1 Commissioner Nicole Wilson's office by email at [email protected] or phone at (407) 836-5918.

This is the damage Orange County photographed following the Aug. 26 home game.

author

Michael Eng

As a child, Editor and Publisher Michael Eng collected front pages of the Kansas City Star during Operation Desert Storm, so it was a foregone conclusion that he would pursue a career in journalism. He holds a journalism degree from the University of Missouri — Columbia School of Journalism. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his wife and three children, or playing drums around town. He’s also a sucker for dad jokes.