Wellington is selling land for the multi-million dollar K-Park mixed-use project

WELLINGTON, Fla. – A West Palm Beach-based developer Related Ross plans to build retail space, restaurants, a hotel, homes and even a private school along State Road 7 in Wellington.

It’s a plan that many, like Pastor Brian Atkins of LifeChurch Wellington, fully support. He says the project would provide more employment for people and would be right next to his church.

“We have about 3,000 to 3,300 people that come to LifeChurch every week and they all say, ‘Hey, let’s go out to lunch, let’s go out to dinner after.’ It’s a great place for them to literally walk across the street,” Atkins said.

However, the idea is not well received by everyone. Others like Jim Mantrozos, part of the Wellington 67 group, wanted the area to become a botanical garden.

“Most people in Wellington wanted it to stay green,” Mantrozos said. “It was voted on; Surveys were already carried out in 2015. It was very clear that we wanted it to stay green and we didn’t want it to be a concrete jungle.”

Traffic is a concern for many, especially since the project would bring a private early childhood education school to the high school.

Mayor Michel Napoleone emphasized that a private school was needed in the village.

“We are a private school desert,” explained Mayor Napoleone. “There is no private school in Wellington or near Wellington that can accommodate so many children. Having a private school in Wellington is of great value to our community.”

The founders of Education in Motion have 14 different schools around the world, and this would be the first campus in the United States.