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$7M for four ballfields?

No way, say Pinellas commissioners. Try again, they tell their staff members.

By THERESA BLACKWELL, Times Staff Writer
Published September 26, 2007

When Pinellas County officials announced a plan in June to build ballfields on a future school site, it looked like the answer to North Pinellas' shortage of facilities for youth sports.

But that dream dimmed Tuesday when county commissioners learned that creating just four athletic fields could cost a staggering $7.3-million.

"I'm certainly not willing to spend $2-million per ballfield," Commissioner Bob Stewart said. "It's just not in the cards."

That's more than double some initial estimates, which ranged from $3.5-million to $5-million.

The $7.3-million would pay to build four multipurpose fields with lights, parking and a restroom and concession building.

One big expense would be mitigating the impact to wetlands on the property, which is at the southeast corner of East Lake and Keystone roads. County officials estimate they would need to spend about $2-million on wetlands mitigation because every field has either wetlands or floodplain issues. As proposed, for example, the county would pay to convert 10 acres in the Brooker Creek Preserve into wetlands.

During the commission's work session, nine people spoke about whether the fields should be built at the higher price, with about half on each side.

But officials with the East Lake Youth Sports Association said they would hold commissioners to a promise made in 2003 to help them build ballfields.

"Today, you've thrown a red flag on our children," said Rob Posavec.

But the money is not readily available. The county has a total of $680,000 in current funds available for the project, said Paul Cozzie, the county's bureau director of culture, education and leisure. He mentioned Penny for Pinellas sales tax revenue starting in 2010 as a possibility. He said the sports association has about $700,000 in grant money, but said the group would like to use that to reconfigure their existing fields on Old Keystone Road.

Because it's just too much money, especially in a time of budget cuts, five of seven commissioners told their staff to look at other options once again.

In the past, officials had considered other potential sites, including land adjoining Oldsmar's Canal Park, a former landfill in Tarpon Springs, East Lake school sites and even 5 acres just east of the East Lake Youth Sports Association's existing fields on Old Keystone Road.

Presumably, those options would not include the 38.5 pine-covered acres in the Brooker Creek Preserve that the county had agreed to lease to the East Lake Youth Sports Association. The idea of expanding the association's playing fields into that area was rejected after environmental activists fought to preserve the property.

On Tuesday, County Commissioner Susan Latvala's suggestion to return to that option was not affirmed by any other commissioner. And three, commissioners Ken Welch, Ronnie Duncan and John Morroni, said they would not consider those preserve acres again.

"I'm not going to go back and do any further investigation there," Cozzie said. "I didn't see any mandate there."

Several commissioners suggested looking further for ways to fund the project, possibly with public/private partnerships or with recreation fees like parking or entrance fees at Fort DeSoto Park.

One option that seemed to pique some officials' interest was spending less money to build fields on the high and dry parts of the East Lake site. For about $1.5-million to $2-million, Cozzie said, you could build four or five temporary fields on the drier parts of the property. But that would mean no lights or electricity or other amenities on site.

Liz Warren, assistant county administrator, said she will bring more information on options back to commissioners in 45 days.

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

[Last modified September 25, 2007, 20:40:31]