The Wellington Sports Academy was supposed to be a hometown success story: a former NFL linebacker who grew up in Wellington building a $38 million training campus for local kids, in partnership with the Village. Two years after neighbors chipped in $2.5 million to move it to Village Park, the academy is partly open and the two partners are in court over parking, fields and money. Here's how it got here, what each side says and what it means for families who use Village Park.
The Sports Academy at a glance
- Where
- 3400 120th Avenue South, at the south end of Village Park, next to the Wellington Aquatics Complex
- Who
- Wellington Athletics LLC, led by Wellington native and former NFL linebacker Jon Bostic, in a public-private partnership with the Village
- Cost
- About $38 million, with about $33 million in Village bond financing. The Village owns the facility and collects license fees
- The move
- Two neighborhoods and an equestrian company paid $2.5 million to relocate it from Wellington Community Park on South Shore Boulevard
- The dispute
- A lawsuit filed June 29, 2026 over parking, field access and money the academy says it's owed. The Village disputes the claims
The original plan, and the $2.5 million move
The Village approved its agreement with Bostic's company, Wellington Athletics, in 2022. It was Wellington's first public-private partnership of its kind. The academy was first planned for Wellington Community Park on South Shore Boulevard, the former Boys & Girls Club site. Nearby equestrian neighborhoods worried about traffic on South Shore, the main route into the horse show area, and glare from tall field lights.
The solution was to move it about two miles north to Village Park. In January 2024, the Village Council supported the relocation, and then-Mayor Anne Gerwig called it "a win-win." The Palm Beach Post reported that the cost of the move was covered by those who asked for it: $1 million from Mallet Hill, $500,000 from Southfields and $1 million from Wellington Lifestyle Partners, the company behind Wellington International. Negotiations stalled for a while after Bostic's group initially asked for $5 million.
The Village saw an upside too. Assistant Village Manager Ed De La Vega told the Post at the time that putting the academy beside the new aquatics center and existing gyms meant "we will have all of our athletics in one central location," which would help Wellington host tournaments and grow sports tourism.
"Growing pains" after opening
The academy partially opened in 2025, and the Village issued a certificate of occupancy in April 2026. Some indoor and outdoor amenities were in use at limited capacity while construction continued. At a council meeting in May 2026, Bostic told the council, "We're already doing great work within the community with what we have so far."
Council members praised the project but raised concerns, especially about parking during tournaments. During a January volleyball event, families couldn't find parking and had to walk a long way to reach the building. "There have been a lot of growing pains," Mayor Michael Napoleone said. Councilwoman Amanda Silvestri said "the whole thing could have been avoided if there had been proper communication ahead of time." The council asked staff to set up a workshop to work through parking, scheduling and public access.
The lawsuit
On June 24, 2026, Village Attorney Laurie Cohen sent a letter alleging Wellington Athletics was in breach of several parts of the agreement and threatening termination, the Town-Crier reported. Five days later, the company sued the Village. According to the Town-Crier and WFLX, the lawsuit claims:
- Parking: that the agreement grants an "easement for parking and access throughout the entirety of Village Park," but visitors are now limited to the spaces around the building, with gates installed between the academy and the Aquatics Center.
- Fields: that the Village closed recreational fields the company planned to use for camps and training, costing it revenue.
- Money: that the Village withheld $170,000 of the $2.5 million relocation contribution and reversed fees it had previously waived.
The suit asks the court to enforce the company's rights under the agreement and seeks damages and attorneys' fees. These are allegations, and no court has ruled on them. No ruling or trial date had been reported as of mid-October 2026.
The Village's side
"We strongly disagree with the characterization set forth in the complaint," Cohen told the Town-Crier, adding that the Village respects the company's right to go to court and looks forward "to presenting the complete facts through the judicial process."
Village Manager Jim Barnes told WFLX the Village remains committed to the partnership but reads the agreement differently. He said the parking crunch mainly happens during big tournaments, which often start before the Aquatics Center opens. On normal days, he said, visitors can park anywhere, but tournaments bring more cars than the spaces near the building, so staff use gates and a traffic attendant to keep room for pool users. "Our objective was not conflict," Barnes told the Town-Crier. "Our objective was making the partnership successful."
Two ways to look at it
The case for patience
- New facilities have rough starts. The academy is still finishing construction, and both sides have said they want the partnership to work. The council itself called the problems "growing pains."
- It's already serving families. The academy has added open-play volleyball with the Village and continues to hire local coaches.
- The bigger vision still makes sense. One sports campus with a pool, gyms and training space could bring tournaments, visitors and spending to Wellington.
The case for concern
- Public money is on the line. The Village backed about $33 million in bonds, so taxpayers have a real stake in the partnership's success.
- Village Park is shared. Parking and field time used by tournaments is parking and field time not available to swimmers, rec leagues and everyday park users. One Aquatics Center regular told WFLX the lot can feel "really hectic" even on a normal Friday and urged both sides to compromise.
- Litigation costs everyone. A drawn-out court fight between partners could delay a resolution on the very issues families care about most.
What it means if you use Village Park
- The Village says it will keep its other recreation facilities running normally while the case continues.
- On big tournament weekends, expect tighter parking near the south end of Village Park and plan extra time to walk.
- For pool hours and programs, see our Wellington Aquatics Complex listing, and for other options, our guide to the best parks in Wellington.
What do you think?
Is this a bumpy start to a partnership that will pay off, or a sign Wellington should rethink public-private deals? We'll update this story as the case moves forward. For more local debates, see why Wellington didn't lower the tax rate this year and whether the Village made the right call on K-Park.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Wellington Sports Academy suing the Village?
Wellington Athletics LLC filed suit on June 29, 2026, claiming the Village restricted parking it says it's entitled to throughout Village Park, closed fields it planned to use, withheld $170,000 of a $2.5 million relocation contribution and reversed waived fees. The Village disputes the claims, and no court has ruled.
Where is the Wellington Sports Academy?
At 3400 120th Avenue South, at the south end of Village Park next to the Wellington Aquatics Complex.
Who paid to move the Sports Academy to Village Park?
The Palm Beach Post reported Mallet Hill paid $1 million, Southfields paid $500,000 and Wellington Lifestyle Partners paid $1 million to move it from Wellington Community Park on South Shore Boulevard.
How much did the Wellington Sports Academy cost?
About $38 million, including about $33 million in Village bond financing. The Village owns the facility and collects license fees.
Sources
- Town-Crier: Wellington Sports Academy Files Suit Over Parking And Field Issues (July 24, 2026)
- WFLX: Fight over parking spaces at Village Park in Wellington heads to court (July 11, 2026)
- Town-Crier: Wellington Council Addresses Sports Academy 'Growing Pains' (May 15, 2026)
- Palm Beach Post via AOL: Wellington neighborhoods pay $2.5M to move Jon Bostic's sports academy to Village Park
- Town-Crier: Council Supports Moving Sports Training Facility To Village Park (Jan. 2024)
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