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Plans for athletic fields fade

A task force recommends preservation, not recreation, for land on Morris Bridge Road.

By RODNEY THRASH
Published April 3, 2005

NEW TAMPA - A group of area sports leaders and environmentalists did in four two-hour meetings what Hillsborough County commissioners could not do in four months: decide the fate of 70 acres of brush and scrub at Morris Bridge Road.

"We're not going to even use this site," said Mike Wallace, president of the New Tampa Sharks youth football league.

Commissioner Jim Norman thought he would. He figured that athletic fields in this northeast Hillsborough suburb were so scarce, people would jump at the opportunity to develop baseball, football and softball fields on the site.

So last April, he persuaded the county to buy the Morris Bridge property for $3.5-million. Not all of Norman's board colleagues shared his vision for athletic fields though. Ultimately, county commissioners threw up their hands and assembled a 16-member task force to decide the property's fate for them.

Last week, the group did just that.

The Morris Bridge property has been recommended for purchase under a preservation program that could free up money to update recreational facilities elsewhere.

To that end, the task force prioritized New Tampa's immediate, short- and long-term needs. The group defined immediate as under six months, short term as six months to two years, and long term as two years or longer.

* In the next six months, the group wants the county to have lighting, irrigation, restrooms or soccer and football practice facilities at New Tampa Community Park, Benito Recreation Center and Pride Elementary School, where there are 14 acres of available park land.

* In the next six months to two years, the task force recommended the county develop an 18-acre park at Live Oak Preserve; buy at least 40 additional acres of park space at K-Bar Ranch and Live Oak Preserve; and develop Fowler Avenue and U.S. 301, where there's room for six ball fields and parking.

The task force also would like the county to develop 20 acres available across from the Publix grocery store on Cross Creek Boulevard and Morris Bridge Road; lease or donate 12 acres across from Hunter's Green to the nonprofit Tampa Bay Sportsplex Inc. for an ice hockey arena and aqua center; and enter discussions with TECO about the possibility of building practice fields in Tampa Palms on the utility's easement.

* Long term, the task force will continue to meet to assess the area's recreational needs, which include building recreational facilities on K-Bar Ranch and in nearby Branchton.

The group will present its suggestions to county commissioners April 20.

Rodney Thrash can be reached at 813 269-5313 or rthrash@sptimes.com

[Last modified April 2, 2005, 10:10:05]