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Park swap details wanted in writing
By CHASE SQUIRES, Times Staff Writer ZEPHYRHILLS -- A task force established to study the city's Krusen Field options put itself on temporary hold while it waits for two reports members called critical to the mission. The task force of city officials and residents is charged with making a list of pros and cons for the council to weigh before deciding on a proposal from Zephyrhills Spring Water Co. to swap the city's Krusen Field ballpark for a new park somewhere else. The water company wants to expand warehouses into the park, adjacent to its Zephyrhills bottling plant. But until the water company puts in writing its proposal to build a state-of-the art park as a swap for the ball fields, task force chairwoman Lani Prilliman said Wednesday night that everything is at a standstill. Water company spokeswoman Meg Andronaco said she just got the request this week and did not know how long it would take the company to put its offer in writing. City Council member Clyde Bracknell said the company's financial commitment is key, and any deal would require the company to build the replacement park before the city hands over Krusen Field. "Is the water company going to foot the bill?" he asked. "If no, then it's over with." The other critical report needed is a list of park needs from the city, Prilliman said. Opponents say the swap would swamp the residential neighborhoods near the water plant with noise, lower property values by robbing the area of a park and increase truck traffic. Andronaco said if the deal does not go through, the neighborhood would see a 20 percent increase in truck traffic because of warehouse and shipping needs. Critics said if the expansion goes through, the number of truck trips will grow from 200 a day to 300. Andronaco on Wednesday said she did not want to discuss truck traffic any more. Task force member Cleve Barker said he had 587 signatures so far on a petition against the swap. Swap proponent Tommy Powell said he had collected 440 signatures, with another 200 coming in, in favor. The chance to have a free, new park, with all the best equipment, is too good to pass up, he said. "This is a once in a lifetime shot for us to do something for the kids," Powell said. The task force agreed not to set a date for its next meeting until both the city and the bottled water company turn in the requested documents.
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