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Sign down but a ban on activities remains

Responsibility for the sign was determined to be USF's, not the city's.

By ROBBYN MITCHELL
Published June 18, 2006

ST. PETERSBURG - The University of South Florida St. Petersburg sign located in Poynter Park that forbade fishing and swimming has been shifted back onto university property, said Holly Kickliter of campus relations.

The sign was posted on city property to enforce the university's health practice to prevent injury to anyone who could be hurt on the seawall.

But that doesn't mean residents are allowed to return to their fishing routine.

"The city does not permit fishing or swimming in the Poynter Park area," said Christie Stevens of the city parks department.

Poynter Park is 1.396 acres of grassy area extending from Third Street S to the harbor between the Salvador Dali Museum and USF's campus.

Cliff Footlick, parks operation manager for the city, said the city does maintain the park, which extends from Ninth Avenue S to about 50 feet from the corner of the seawall on Third Street S.

USF maintains the remaining 50 feet and the property that extends onto the campus.

Don Crawford of the Real Estate and Property Management office for the city inspected the area Thursday and determined that the sign was 6 to 12 feet onto city land and was probably placed there in error. He admitted that city maps make it difficult to delineate the start and end of the area.

"I wouldn't take any offense," Crawford said. "I would just call the university and remove the sign."

When he returned Friday, he said the sign was lying in the grass.

As for the rest of the seawall, Deeann Miller, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said the state has leased the property to the university and it does have the authority to prevent fishing and swimming on the property.

[Last modified June 18, 2006, 07:37:45]