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New changes brew at Fort De Soto

Two concessionaires want to tweak rentals, hours and menus.

By PAUL SWIDER
Published May 17, 2006

"I used to fish off the gulf pier as a kid," said the 49-year-old Ybor City businessman. "The park really hasn't changed much since then."

And it won't, Kahana said, if he and partner Mark Enoch take over the concessions there in July. Sensitive to public unrest this year when Pinellas County sought to expand services at the 1,100-acre island park, Kahana and Enoch are hewing close to the line of the county's revamped proposal, which seeks to keep services at the park much as they are but with better quality.

"That's what the public process is all about," Kahana said of the hundreds of environmentalists' e-mails the county received in opposition to onetime plans to have a full-service restaurant and alcoholic beverage sales at the park. "We're being very conscious not to intrude on the ecological interests."

Operating under the newly formed company United Park Services, Kahana and Enoch would replace the campground store trailer with a newer modular building of similar size. They would rent out chairs and umbrellas at the park's North Beach and offer new boat rentals, like a small sailboat and pedal-powered kayak for cruising the inland waters of the park. United would also extend hours to serve late-night fishermen and change menus at the snack bars.

"There's pretty good room for improvement in the menu offering," said Lyle Fowler, part of the county's parks staff that evaluated the three concessions proposals. "No disrespect to the current concessionaire, but we'd like for people to feel they're getting real value."

The Apostolu family has run concessions at the park for decades, but didn't even compete for the contract in this latest round of proposals. Under their management, the county collected $115,000 on $889,000 in sales last year, plus $30,000 in rent, Fowler said.

United is projecting sales of $1.3-million for this year and will pay 12.5 to 15 percent of sales over the five years of its contract. The contract is still being drafted and couldn't be approved by the County Commission until June at the earliest, but would have United take over as early as July 1.

"I hope the county listened and did what they said they would do," said Lorraine Margeson, an environmentalist who was at the center of protest over the initial proposals at Fort De Soto. She said she has not reviewed the new proposals and those opposed earlier are preoccupied now with county water-pumping plans in Brooker Creek Preserve, but she doesn't expect any Fort De Soto controversy. "I don't think they're going to do anything stupid after what happened the last time around."

Margeson said she was happy to hear that United plans to introduce ecotours. She said environmentalists and bird enthusiasts can represent a significant economic opportunity.

Kahana said the new services will also feature healthier foods at the snack bars, including fruit and smoothies. He also plans pancake breakfasts at the campground to cater to its active clientele.

Kahana has made his name in redevelopment and historic preservation in Ybor City, as well as restaurants and hospitality there. He owns five establishments in the district: the Boneyard, Irish Pub, Czar, the Castle and Fly Trap Pool Hall. Though he has organized such events as Tropical Heat Wave, the Ybor Folk Festival and Guavaween, Kahana said customers should expect nothing of Ybor in Fort De Soto.

Enoch operates concessions at the county's Sand Key Park, but also organizes food and vendors for such events as the Gasparilla Parade, the Mainsail Arts Festival, First Night and the St. Petersburg Grand Prix.

Fowler said the county has received four e-mails about the new proposal, three asking that bicycle rentals continue and one chiding the county for not making more money from the deals. He said the biggest concern now is the tight schedule for a transition to new vendors.

Paul Swider can be reached at 892-2271 or pswider@sptimes.com by participating in itsyourtimes.com.

[Last modified May 17, 2006, 07:30:55]