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Schools

County, school district reach deal on ballfields

By THERESA BLACKWELL
Published June 20, 2007

EAST LAKE - After being criticized and even ostracized for supporting the introduction of ballfields to the Brooker Creek Preserve, County Commissioner Susan Latvala now says they should go somewhere else.

Like the southeastern corner of Keystone and East Lake roads.

Along with School Board members Jane Gallucci and Peggy O'Shea, Latvala announced Tuesday that school and county officials are working on a partnership to build four fields for soccer and football on the school district's property there.

As proposed, the School Board would provide 20 acres for ballfields at the 43.5-acre site, leaving enough room for a possible future middle school. The county would provide or secure much of the $3.5-million to $5-million to develop the four fields, which likely would be used jointly by the East Lake Youth Sports Association and the school.

"I am so happy - a fabulous day in Pinellas County, " Latvala said. "I could just hug school superintendent Clayton Wilcox."

Latvala, a former School Board member, said the partnership marks a major policy shift: It is the first time that the school district has set aside part of a future school site for recreation.

Until Tuesday, Latvala has steadfastly supported allowing ballfields to go in the preserve. It was something the county had promised the sports association, she said.

In response, environmental activists had lambasted Latvala, and the Friends of the Brooker Creek Preserve passed a resolution saying she was no longer welcome as a board member. Even friends have criticized her, she said.

But Tuesday's announcement allows the county to keep its promise to the sports association while protecting the preserve. If the deal goes through, a 10-year battle over the 38.5 acres will end.

The alternative has been under consideration for some time, but one obstacle loomed large: the school system does not work in partnership with private groups like the sports association.

So Latvala talked with Gallucci, who talked with Wilcox, who talked with County Administrator Steve Spratt.

Pinellas officials assured the School Board that the county - not a youth sports group - would be the school district's partner.

With that, architects at Harvard Jolly have created a site plan that moved the school so that parking could be shared and four ballfields could be built on the eastern part of the property - where they will remain even if a school is built.

A few hurdles remain.

The eastern part of the site is lower and may contain wetlands. And since it is a wellfield protection area, development permits would be required. But no change in land use or zoning is needed. And transportation access would have to be addressed.

"And we haven't heard from the neighbors yet, " Latvala said.

Those intent on protecting the Brooker Creek Preserve see this as winning another battle, but hardly the war.

"We worked real hard for this, but other people obviously worked hard, too, behind the scenes, " said Walt Hoskins, chairman of the Friends of Brooker Creek Preserve. "There's a lot of thanks to go around."

But it's not enough, he said.

"We believe a charter amendment (protecting the preserve from development) is the only thing that really has the teeth in it to provide protection, " he said.

Theresa Blackwell can be reached at tblackwell@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4170.

IF YOU GO:

Meeting time is changed

The Pinellas County Commission will have a workshop on the Brooker Creek Preserve at 6 p.m. Thursday in the fifth-floor commission assembly room, 315 Court St., Clearwater. Topics under discussion include updates on ballfield sites and more.

[Last modified June 20, 2007, 07:11:12]