OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Marion County Board of County Commissioners at their Aug. 5, 2025, meeting, discussed the county’s legislative priorities for the 2026 legislative session, and among those were appropriations requests for five projects within the county.
The board voted unanimously to approve the legislative priority list as amended, 5-0.
The appropriations requests were for the Lowell Municipal Drinking Water Project, funding for the roadway construction on the Marion Oaks Extension Project, funding for returning swimming to Silver Springs, funding for a new facility replacing the old one at the Florida Department of Health-Marion Belleview Clinic and funding for improvements to the Bradford-Ma Barker House.
The request from Marion County is for the construction costs for funding the Lowell Municipal Drinking Water Project in the amount of $2,500,000.
The proposed 12-inch water line extension is approximately 6.73 miles in length, with valves, fire hydrants and a water booster station included, with the objective to extend a centralized potable water system into the Lowell community.
Funding for roadway improvements for the Marion Oaks Manor Extension Project from SW 49th Ave. to CR 475, which includes the construction of a flyover bridge over I-75, offering motorists a safe and efficient way of crossing I-75, and alleviating congestion, is also among the county’s priorities.
However, there are costs involved, including right-of-way acquisition and utility relocations that will be needed along the project corridor to accommodate the road extension and bridge construction.
The county has requested $2 million for the right-of-way acquisition, planning and engineering and constructions costs associated with the project.
Also, among the items that county has requested are project construction costs to return swimming to Silver Springs, with the county requesting $2,500,000 for costs associated with project construction.
In 2013, the Florida Park Service assumed control and management of Silver Springs and merged it with Silver River State Park, creating Silver Springs Park. In 2014, the state’s Unit Management Plan for the park included creating a public swimming area at the headsprings.
In 2016, Wild Waters Waterpark was shuttered, and the infrastructure of the facility was removed in 2019. A number of improvements have been discussed and planned, but few have been realized, which included reopening the springs to swimming. The county has been working with the Department of Environmental Protection and the leadership at Silver Springs State Park to leverage influence and move the project forward.
There was discussion regarding the county having a public relations campaign for the return of swimming to Silver Springs.
Marion County is also requesting $4,000,000 for the construction of a new Florida Department of Health-Marion Clinic in Belleview. The project is currently in the design phase with the Department of Health and Marion County having allocated $433,920 for the design of the new facility.
The current facility, a modular building that FDOH-Marion uses in Belleview for its clinic is more than 25 years old. The project is to construct a new building on the existing property to replace the older one.
And finally, the fifth appropriations request is that of funding improvements to the Bradford-Ma Barker House that’s located at the Carney Island Recreation and Conservation Area. The home has historical significance, being the site of the longest gun battle FBI history.
The county is requesting $500,000 from the state for infrastructure improvements to the house.