New Rollins, Winter Park High leaders talk about being good neighbors
The City Commission also gave final approval to the Winter Park Playhouse lease and effectively banned new residential pickleball courts
Aug. 28, 2025
By Beth Kassab
The president of Rollins College and the principal of Winter Park High School, both barely a month into their positions as two of the city’s most prominent education leaders, stopped by the City Commission on Wednesday to make introductions and express a desire to be “good neighbors.”
“Reading about the history of Winter Park and Rollins College and how those things have come together since 1885, I do think we benefit each other,” said Brooke Barnett, who just arrived on campus to succeed Grant Cornwell. “I have not been able to be out and about in Winter Park as much as I would like, but am looking forward to being a member of the community.”
Barnett, who most recently served as provost, executive vice president and professor at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN, said she’s been learning her way around campus — partially via golf cart to beat the Florida heat.
She said that while many Rollins students are temporary residents of Winter Park, they are also engaged in the community and she is willing to address any concerns that arise.
“We want them to be good neighbors,” she said.
Barnett arrives at the private liberal arts college with about 2,600 students as significant projects are taking shape including a controversial off-campus apartment building not far from Park Avenue for early career faculty as well as new on-campus residence halls. Innovation Triangle, which includes the expanded Alfond Inn, a new Crummer School of Business and a new art museum clustered at the corner of New England and Interlachen avenues is also in the works.
New Winter Park High Principal Michael Meechin also reported a learning curve in finding his way around a campus that is also under construction and has about 3,200 students, including the Ninth Grade Center.
“What’s incredibly unique about Winter Park High School that I’ve learned in a very short period of time is the year and years of tradition,” said Meechin, who has also served as a principal in Osceola County and runs a company called The Principal School, which provides support and education to other principals.
Meechin said he grew up in the Boston area and attended the same high school as other generations in his family similar to how many parents of Winter Park High students also attended there themselves.
“Next year is Winter Park’s 100th year,” he said. “There are so many stories of just incredible excellence that have happened on that campus … in the classroom, on the field or on the stage … we, too, are looking to become great neighbors.”
Several city commissioners noted the increase in students riding electric scooters and electric bicycles to and from school and asked Meechin to help continue to safety campaign started last year by the police department and Commissioner Craig Russell, who works as a teacher and coach at the school.
WP Playhouse lease finalized
Commissioners gave final approval this week for the $1-per-year lease with the Winter Park Playhouse to occupy the theater building that will soon be owned by the city and undergo renovations before next season.
The nonprofit professional musical theater will also be granted bridge loans of up to $600,000 by the city if needed during the construction process. An $8 million grant from Orange County tourism development tax dollars is footing most of the bill for the project (including the purchase of the building), but a bridge loan may be required as the theater’s required private contributions come in.
Residential pickleball banned
Residents will not be able to build new pickleball courts on their property after a vote this week that made the requirements so onerous as to be an effective ban.
While only a few courts on residential property exist today, there is concern more could appear as the paddle sport has soared in popularity.
The rules, which are designed to prevent noise complaints related to the game’s trademark near-constant ball whacks, will not affect commercial or public pickleball courts.
WinterParkVoiceEditor@gmail.com
“…trademark near-constant ball whacks” is a phrase worthy of Scott Maxwell.
I am baffled why the city continues to take properties off the tax rolls (former library, Progress Point, WP Playhouse, Winter Pines Golf Course) receives no income and then defends a tax increase. Hello? OAO is another massive failure of responsible property tax generation.
The city commission and city management better get prepared for the November 2026 state amendment on property tax reform. It will likely pass and this fun-filled spending frenzy will come to an abrupt end. No complaining, Mayor and Commissioners: Your taxpayer funded largesse created the amendment.
There are hundreds of condos in the vicinity of Morse and Interlachen. I was told that an owner of the property (now a vacant lot) close to this intersection plans to build a pickleball court. Will that be affected by the new ban?
Good question. That development will not be affected (or prevented) by this rule change. That’s because the developer of the coffee shop/residence as I understand it received a variance and approval of the site plan before this rule took effect. Will keep an eye on this, however, and please let me know if you hear anything.
Thank you for your response. In addition to those who live nearby, I doubt that customers of the nearby restaurants will appreciate hearing a side of thwacking with their meals.