Dade City hasn't allocated money for a park, and it closed its temporary one in May after receiving complaints.
By MOLLY MOORHEAD, Times Staff Writer
Published August 5, 2005
DADE CITY - When the city shut down its temporary skateboard park earlier this year, officials said they were committed to finding a permanent spot for kids and their boards.
With money for a park promised from Pasco County, discussions rumbled about where and how to get it built.
But the city had never allocated money for a park, which could cost up to $180,000. And as the 2005-06 budget is finalized in the coming weeks, it might not include any skate park money for next year.
Reached this week, some city commissioners told the St. Petersburg Times that while the park is needed, other projects might take priority.
"When you look at it from the standpoint of how many people used it downtown, then I'm not sure it has as much merit as some of the other things that are more pressing," Commissioner Bill Dennis said. "But I think it should be there."
The temporary park, located in a parking lot adjacent to City Hall, opened in 2002 at a cost of about $10,000. Commissioners closed it temporarily in February because of complaints about noise, vandalism and skaters not wearing their helmets. They shut it down for good in May.
Commissioner Steve Van Gorden indicated he thinks the time to fund a permanent skateboard park might be further off.
"Overall, in our current fiscal situation, it might be tough this year for that to happen," he said.
As development inches toward Dade City, a fiscal crisis that began in the last decade and culminated two years ago with the dissolution of the city's fire department appears to be nearing an end. But leaders frequently caution that city coffers are not yet seeing the fruits of growth.
"Dade City really doesn't have that much more money," Dennis said. "And even if every (housing and commercial development) that has been proposed and asked about started now, we wouldn't get any money from them until 2007."
Commissioner Scott Black said he hasn't made a decision and would consider a skateboard park among other projects.
"I'm sure it would be high on the list since we want to solve this and have a place for the skateboarders," he said.
Other proposed capital projects include new police cars, a utility truck that costs $125,000 and sidewalks near the schools.
City Manager Harold Sample said there is no money in property tax revenue to set aside for a park. Money would have to come from other sources, such as Penny for Pasco sales tax proceeds.
"They're just going to have to decide which projects go when," Sample said.
Commissioner Eunice Penix said she thinks the time is now.
"I think we should allocate money for that purpose, at least get started with it," she said. "The kids need something to do. We don't have anything in our community for the kids, except Little League and soccer."
When the temporary park was closed for good in May, city attorney and planner Karla Owens said she had begun talking to county officials about a county-owned lot between Martin Luther King Boulevard and Fifth Street downtown. The county has set aside $60,000 for a park in east Pasco.
Owens said then that the park could be completed over time, possibly with the help of donations from private groups.
Dennis said Thursday he favors pursuing that option.
"Maybe we could lay the concrete ... and do some other stuff the following years," he said.
He acknowledged a need for more recreation options.
"To me, there's a lot of things that we need to do," he said. "We never have done a lot for kids in this town."
Molly Moorhead covers news about Dade City. She can be reached at 352 521-6521 or toll-free 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6521. Her e-mail address is moorhead@sptimes.com
