Tiger Point football OK with some, not with others
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Some Tiger Point residents are trying to make sure that their soccer programs don't get trampled this fall by football programs at Tiger Point Park.

Parents, whose children faithfully play soccer year in and year out, are concerned that the addition of another sport could overwhelm the current facilities.

According to Mike Miller, President of the Bayside Soccer League, nearly 500 children were playing soccer last year at the park and there are plans to expand the league by four more teams, which would equal an addition of approximately 70 new players.

Football signups are still in progress, but lack the amount of participation currently happening in soccer. Both the football and soccer seasons culminate in fall and park officials announced that the two sports would share some practice space.

"There is no question the park is beyond capacity and hopefully the county commissioners will be able to make some new park space avaiable soon," said Miller. "In the meantime we will roll up our sleeves and do the best we can to make sure all the football, baseball, softball and soccer kids have a place to play."

More than 100 concerned residents and park patrons signed a petition in October of last year requesting specific health and safety improvements to the park. Now, more than six months later, the same petitioners are scratching their heads over the decision to implement a brand new football program before addressing their requests.

"I don't mind the football, I just don't want it to take away from soccer," said Nancy Frank, a Navarre mother of three. "I'd like to see the other things done before the inclusion of another sport."

The petition was a wish list of improvements for the facility, including such amenities and services as automatic flushing toilets, increased garbage pickup, new playground equipment, a dog park, a skateboard park and other groundskeepingrelated items. Petition organizer Alessandra Kellermann said there has been no response to the document.

"I am trying to understand what we should have done differently to get our voices heard," Kellermann wrote in an email. "We are very disappointed and confused. When does the community at large receive a voice - or is it only a preferred influential group of families who run the board and want the football no matter what price is paid by other more inclusive sports and other families who utilize the public park regularly for other means of enjoyment?"

Commissioner John Broxson, whose district includes the park, said he hasn't seen the petition, but would welcome it.

"A few months ago I initiated visioning sessions with the board of directors of the Tiger Point athletic Association," Broxson said. "At the first meeting I challenged the board to envision the athletic and recreational needs of the whole Tiger Point area as well as for the burgeoning population of the Midway community."

"The board has been actively working on a plan for the future... We must plan today for a viable future in community athletics for our youngsters."

The commissioner is currently narrowing down consulting firms that he would like to see complete a recreation master plan for the Tiger Point area. Broxson said the development of such a plan would include public meetings and hearings in order to include public comments.