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Letter to the editor

Ballfields still a dream

By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published June 6, 2007

For months environmental groups and Pinellas County officials have locked horns over the county's plan to allow East Lake Youth Sports Association to build ballfields on one of two spots in the Brooker Creek Preserve - either on 38.5 acres off Old Keystone Road or on 46 acres off Trinity Boulevard, the site of a proposed water-blending plant. But late last month signaled a potential shift in the debate. The commission took the Trinity site off the table and county staff said there are at least a half-dozen other sites in Pinellas worth considering. Pasco County also might be interested in partnering to build ballfields in South Pasco. None of the sites are a sure thing, as they're owned by other entities. East Lake wants to build five to 10 ballfields. A look at the potential sites:

1 Tract adjoining Canal Park. About 63 upland acres, mostly owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. Swiftmud would retain some acreage, so it's hard to say how many fields could be built. It takes 2 to 2.5 acres per field with parking.

2 Cypress Woods Elementary School. 1.4 acres owned by Pinellas County Schools. Room for one practice field. The school would use the site for overflow parking during school events.

3 East Lake High School. About 1.6 acres owned by Pinellas County schools far to the rear of the school. Probably room for one regulation multipurpose field.

4 Brooker Creek Elementary School. 1.4 acres owned by Pinellas schools. Room for one practice field.

5 Southeast corner of East Lake Road/Keystone Road intersection. 40 acres owned by Pinellas schools for future middle school construction. May have room for four or five multipurpose fields if coordinated with school building plan.

6 Four parcels off East Lake Road and one farther west on Keystone Road. 65.7 acres north of Keystone Road owned privately and 15.3 acres owned by the county. Wetlands may hamper number of ballfields.

7 Tarpon Springs landfill. 41 capped acres south of Tarpon Springs Fundamental Elementary School. Once used as the town dump. Would require approval of City Commission. The site is designed for one multipurpose and four baseball fields, but might accommodate more.

[Last modified June 5, 2007, 23:37:55]