Reedy Creek Improvement District Established - DISNEY THIS DAY - May 12, 1967
On this day in 1967, Florida’s Governor Claude Kirk signed new legislation that established the Reedy Creek Improvement District and the two cities within it, Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista. The Reedy Creek Improvement District is a special district in Florida, USA, that was created in 1967 to manage and govern the land that would become Walt Disney World Resort. The district covers an area of about 25,000 acres and is located in Orange and Osceola counties. The idea for the Reedy Creek Improvement District came about in the early 1960s when Walt Disney began planning his new theme park in Florida. Disney wanted to create a self-contained community with its own infrastructure and services, including roads, water supply, sewage treatment, and emergency services. However, the existing laws and regulations at the time did not allow for the kind of control Disney envisioned. To overcome these challenges, Disney lobbied the Florida legislature to create a special district with its own government and jurisdiction over the land that would become Walt Disney World Resort. The legislature passed the Reedy Creek Improvement District Act in 1967, which established the district and gave it broad powers to manage and govern the land. The district was governed by a board of supervisors, who are elected by the landowners within the district. The board was responsible for managing the district's finances, approving budgets, and making policy decisions. The district also had its own police force, fire department, and emergency medical services. Over the years, the Reedy Creek Improvement District has played a key role in the development and growth of Walt Disney World Resort. The district has invested in infrastructure and services to support the resort, including the construction of roads, bridges, and utility systems. It has also played a role in managing environmental issues, such as wetland protection and water quality. Today, the Reedy Creek Improvement District is no longer in existence. It has been replaced by the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District and currently is the subject of controversy that has led to lawsuits and new legislation in Florida. Want More Disney news and videos? Subscribe to Daps Magic here: http://goo.gl/cWy9k https://dapsmagic.com http://disneynews.org Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dapsmagic Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/daps_magic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/dapsmagic