When John Gembecki moved into the Deer Run neighborhood more than three decades ago, he could look out his back window and get a scenic view of the 16th tee of his community’s golf course.
But in June 2019, Deer Run became the latest golf course within a residential community to shutter its fairways, greens and clubhouse. Last August, the course’s owner submitted preliminary development plans with Seminole County that shows 213 homes on the 138-acres at the center of the Deer Run neighborhood.
Now, residents of the 2,950-home community – nestled between Casselberry and Winter Springs, just north of Red Bug Lake Road – are asking county leaders to buy the land and turn it into an open park where residents can walk on trails, throw a Frisbee or simply enjoy a picnic.