Background of "The Compound"

Located in the southwestern area of Palm Bay, the area known as The Compound is an undeveloped area of 12.2 square miles (2,784 acres). The area is a former General Development Corporation (GDC) site, with development that began in the 1980s. When GDC went bankrupt in 1991, development stalled and the land that makes up The Compound was liquidated. The Compound remains largely undeveloped aside from the roughly 200 miles of roadway installed by GDC.

Today, the area known as the Compound is mostly privately owned and zoned for residential use, although the City of Palm Bay owns the paved roadways. Of the area’s 2,784 total acres, only 235 acres are City-owned. The area known as The Compound is not zoned as a recreation area open to the public. Even though nearly all The Compound is privately owned, the area has been increasingly used, illegally, as a popular spot for recreational outdoor activities. This misconception has led to an increase in illegal activity in the area.

View map of area known as "The Compound"

Anyone entering private property without consent of the landowner is trespassing. The public may access the City-owned paved roadways; however, all traffic laws apply. Speeding, racing, driving in an unsafe manner, blocking the roadway, and operating off-road vehicles are all prohibited on City roadways, including those found in The Compound. The dumping and/or littering of personal trash, yard waste, construction material, or waste of any other kind is also prohibited. Finally, as the area known as The Compound is zoned for residential use, shooting firearms is illegal and a public safety hazard. It is important to note that discharging weapons in The Compound is especially hazardous as bordering areas, such as the Three Forks Marsh Recreation area, are intended for public use. Anyone in the area must observe all laws for their own safety and the safety of others. All violations carried out in The Compound are punishable and may include fines or possible jail time.

The Palm Bay Police Department engages in spot enforcement and public information campaigns to educate those using the area known as The Compound as a recreational site. The City of Palm Bay will be introducing additional public education materials with the goal of deterring improper or illegal use of properties in the compound and increasing safety awareness.

Educating the community about the realities of The Compound is not only key to public safety, it also impacts the City of Palm Bay’s first responders. When incidents such as brush fires, injuries, or accidents occur in The Compound, Police and Firefighters need to be able to reach the call location in a safe and timely manner. Emergency response times may suffer if routes are blocked by vehicles or debris. The efficacy and well-being of these workers can be compromised by issues like unsafe drivers and firearm use in The Compound.

In practice, The Compound is many things to many people. Many choose to use the area for off-roading, camping, target practice, and a range of other activities. The reality of the situation is that there is one thing The Compound is not: a recreational area. Anyone who chooses to use The Compound for recreational activities is likely in violation of the law and could possibly be compromising their own safety. The City of Palm Bay urges residents and visitors to seek out other sanctioned, authorized venues for outdoor recreation. 

The future of the area commonly referred to as The Compound is largely dependent on the individual landowners. There are currently no plans to revisit the concept of a large-scale ‘GDC-style’ development at the site. Conceptual plans for a future extension of the St. John’s Heritage Parkway pass through The Compound, however no final plans have been approved. Currently, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is carrying out an Alternative Corridor Evaluation (ACE) to determine possible alignments for the roadway. Providing the results of the ACE are positive, FDOT will then begin a Project Development and Environmental Study to determine the environmental impacts of the proposed project before any construction can begin.

Alternatives to "The Compound"

The City of Palm Bay Parks and Recreation Department offers nearly 30 public parks, two community centers, and an aquatic center right here in Palm Bay. A new campground will be coming soon to Fred Poppe Regional Park. For a list of all the facilities, activities, and amenities offered by Palm Bay Parks and Recreation, please visit www.playpalmbay.org.

Information on parks and facilities run by Brevard County can be found at Brevard County Parks and Recreation.

Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism also offers a directory of activities available in Brevard County on their website at Florida's Space Coast.

For those looking for authorized off-roading areas, please visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for more information.

For those looking for approved RV campgrounds, please visit Go Camping America.

For those looking for public shooting ranges, please visit Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Public Shooting Ranges for more information.