BY TOM EIDEL

It hasn’t been that long ago that the Orange City Historic Shuffleboard Complex was a thriving asset to our downtown area and to Florida’s shuffleboard community.

Established in 1944 — and celebrating its 80th anniversary Monday, Feb. 5 – residents and visitors enjoyed competing for fun and prizes on one of the complex’s 16 lighted courts. There is also a clubhouse on-site for meetings, events or any community gathering.

And since 2004, the Orange City Historic District has been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. The shuffleboard complex is included and noted as a “sports complex.”

But now the fate of the shuffleboard complex, including the courts and the clubhouse, is in the hands of the Orange City Council, which has already decided to flatten it in favor of an employee parking lot.

I serve on Orange City’s Historic Preservation Board. The disposition of any structure in Orange City with historic distinction is supposed to be subject to the review and approval of this appointed body of volunteer members. Sadly, in the case of the shuffleboard complex, this procedure was not followed.

Council members were provided a 2021 inspection that deemed the building unsafe due to wall, ceiling and roof damage caused by water intrusion. I’ve toured the building and found no water intrusion or related damage.

Other issues noted were GFI outlets, a leaky sink, and the possibility of the presence of lead paint.

With that mindset, the entire historic district could be demolished. It needs to be fixed up, but the structure is sound.

The downtown space that holds the shuffleboard complex deserves better than to be reduced to asphalt. New generations of Orange City residents could play shuffleboard, or some of the space could be repurposed for pickleball, which is growing in popularity and participation. Groups could have meetings and events in the clubhouse — perhaps even generating rental income for the city.

More importantly, this is the only park and recreation space in District 4, and we don’t want to lose it. Across America, cities like ours are resurrecting their downtown areas. They are not building parking lots — they are providing outdoor green spaces, retail, restaurants, recreation, and other amenities that beckon visitors.

Currently, the Historic Preservation Board is conducting work sessions and regular meetings to bolster an appeal to destroying the shuffleboard complex. We implore city staff to reconsider their demolition recommendation to the council.

Our formal appeal will be heard in late February, so time is of the essence. Petitions are circulating around town, and supporters have placed signs in their yards. Social media is abuzz with comments from residents who are overwhelmingly in support of saving the complex from becoming a parking lot.

It will take the whole community to save the shuffleboard complex from the wrecking ball. Talk to your neighbors, sign a petition, request a sign … all these actions will help the cause.

However, the most impactful thing you can do is make your voice heard by reaching out to City Council members and attending and speaking at their meetings. Let them know what you do and do not want to happen to your city.

Let’s preserve this recreational space for the benefit and aesthetics of Orange City.

— Eidel is the Orange City Historic Preservation Board chair.