City unveils park plans
BY VICI PAPAJOHN Gulf Breeze News vici@gulfbreezenews.com

Photo courtesy of Gulf Breeze City Hall Gulf Option, above, includes a large expansion of the undeveloped parts of South Sunset Park including a cleared area for occasional use parking red striped area) and frisbee golf (large yellow area).

Preliminary conceptual long range park designs were presented to a crowd of approximately 30 Gulf Breeze citizens and the city council members on Wednesday night, March 26. A presentation of two plans, the Breeze plan and the Gulf plan, highlighted areas for potential change and expansion.

"Examining the size of the park and the area of dedicated substantial portion dedicated to activities, recreation and water access is impressive," said Michael Bomar, with Tetra Tech. "There are a lot of cities that create parks in the areas furthest away from the houses and the water where land is abundant and cheap. This park is within a 5 or 10 minute walk from most of the houses in Gulf Breeze and affords water access - it is a real jewel!"

The Tetra Tech consultant presented the prioritized results from the survey distributed at the first public planning meeting. The highest priority indicated park and recreation improvements, followed by walking and jogging tails, environmental enhancements, public spaces and gathering spots, boat and beach area picnic improvements and public infrastructure improvements, in order of declining priority. One hundred and four signed petitions supporting Rec Center improvements and expansion were also received.

Gateways into the park are noted with large black asterisk . Plans encourage the use of extra-wide paths around the park and crosswalks into the park at the gateway areas. The Gulf Option, above, leaves much of South Shoreline Park natural, and only enhances paths and community walking trail access (dotted white lines) to park and waterfront.

Both the Gulf and Breeze options included a larger Rec Center that more than doubles the current 20,000 square feet; in the Breeze option, a separate addition adds 25,000 square feet and the Gulf plan completely replaces the structure with a new 45,000 square feet expanded Rec Center. A common vein in both designs is the addition of nature trail paths adding South Shoreline Park access and water access to the adjoining communities, four or five foot wide walking paths all around the park with protected cross walks and traffic calming elements such as textured roads and clearly marked cross walks on both Shoreline Drive and South Sunset Drive.

Gilchrist

Sunset Drive resident Carla Steinbach encouraged the council to keep cars out of the heart of the park and to preserve or enhance the natural pond feature. "I really would like to see the pond islands kept in place, too," she encouraged. "I take a toddler to the park and that is a wonderful spot."

Jerry French spoke on behalf of the Audubon Society and encouraged the council to not consider the Breeze option's plans for developing South Shoreline park. "There are many who use the park who are less visible than tennis players or baseball teams. This southern section represents a lot more than an opportunity to walk through the park and watch birds. It is a natural zone and it is a buffer that protects Gulf Breeze."

French also countered many views that parking must be greatly expanded. "Expand the pedestrian access like you are proposing, and encourage walkers. You have to accept that parking is never going to be satisfactory if you try to accommodate everyone who goes to the park. It is a flexible issue."

Dolphin Street resident and Gulf Breeze High School (GBHS) Assistant Principal Danny Brothers encouraged the idea of vacating the old Public Works facility behind city hall. "It's a great spot for a parking lot. A lot of parents pick their kids up after school there or at the library and the kids walk through there. I think moving public works to the vacated water treatment plant site makes great sense. No matter which plan you choose you are making improvements and you are going to attract more kids and that's good."

Retired GBHS PrincipaCharles Gray encourage the consultants and the council to consider a fine arts facility, and Deer Point resident Ben Nolan added the suggestion of a community pool.

After 90 minutes of discussion and review, Mayor Lane Gilchrist encouraged "We want to hear from you. Let us know - look over the plans and get back with us."

Mike Mabry, longtime Gulf Breeze Sports Association (GBSA) board member said, "We do have the elite park here for the area. We are about to start filling the city with tournaments and this plan really makes it even better."

"I gotta hand it to you all now," said Pete Della Ratta, Sr. "Coming from serving on the GBSA board 30 years ago when we had a dirt park to the facilities we have today it is just great."