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The complex will have an area for lap swimming and water aerobics and will have a slide and a splash pool.
By SHEILA MULLANE ESTRADA
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 8, 2001
ST. PETERSBURG -- After years of lobbying, residents of the Childs Park area will finally have a neighborhood pool next summer.
Construction on the multipurpose pool is scheduled to begin in October. It will include facilities for every water interest: whether socializing, performing water aerobics, diving, swimming Olympic 25-meter laps or playing on slides.
"The neighborhood has been talking about wanting a pool since the 1990s. Several years ago the city put the pool in its master plan for Childs Park. Now we are ready to start construction," said Steve Ochsner, the city's capital improvements coordinator. The project is scheduled to be completed by next June.
Wednesday, the Environmental Development Commission approved a number of easements and a site plan for the new pool complex, to be located at the southeast corner of Childs Park, 4301 13th Ave. S.
The Childs Park pool will be the fourth public pool complex south of Central Avenue and the ninth in the city. It is not scheduled to be a year-round pool but will be available for rental or use by outside groups during the off season.
A splash pool will be the new pool's most unique feature, according to Ochsner. "It will be like the splash pools at commercial water parks. It's the first in the city and we are really excited about it," he said.
The splash pool will have a "zero entry" footprint, meaning no steps or ladders are needed to enter the splash area. The splash pool will be shallow, where children and adults alike can wet their toes and splash themselves and each other. The area will include water umbrellas and water cannons.
A more active "training pool" can be used for water aerobics or just mingling in deeper water. A 12-foot deep section will include a one-meter diving board. A special three-lane 25-meter lap pool will serve the more serious swimmers.
The pool complex will also include a three-pod building serving as a men's and women's bath house as well as administration offices. Just off the pool deck will be a large greenspace with trees and picnic tables.
The pool is just one of several projects included in the renovation and expansion of the 11-acre Childs Park recreation complex. Renovations have either been completed or are scheduled for the main recreation center. An athletic/football field is also planned on a separate parcel located within several blocks of the main complex.
Each month the EDC meets to consider proposed development projects that require variances or site plan approval, or requests for alley or right-of-way easements. If the requests are not too far out of line with city codes, the EDC will recommend their approval to the City Council -- providing the developer includes substantial greenspace and other changes to improve the appearance of the project.
Among other items considered Tuesday were:
MENORAH MANOR EXPANSION: Community opposition and an agreeable developer resulted in an on-the-spot site plan change for a planned expansion of the Menorah Manor elderly residential complex located at 255 59th St. N. At issue was whether or how a portion of Burlington Avenue N would remain open to neighborhood traffic.
Originally Menorah Manor had proposed and received neighborhood association approval to close the street from the northwest corner of 59th Street to the corner of the Menorah Manor property. When the city asked that the street remain open, developers reworked their plans to include a landscaped traffic circle. Residents appearing at Tuesday's meeting complained about the new design and asked that the street be either completely closed or left just the way it is.
"I oppose the redesign plan vehemently," said David Warren, who said he did not oppose the planned expansion of Menorah Manor. "This (road plan) will adversely affect the value of my property, and I urge the commission to deny it."
Roberta Yancey said the proposed traffic island, directly in front of her house, would make it impossible for guests to park on the street.
When Menorah Manor representative Don Mastry agreed to simplify the roadway design, the EDC approved the project unanimously. A 15,000-square-foot one-story assisted living facility will be added to the complex's existing nursing home, 16-story apartment building, daycare center and Congregation B'Nai Israel Temple.
AUTO SALES FACILITY: A vacant, deteriorating restaurant will be converted into a used auto sales facility, despite the objections of some neighbors. City planners said the site at 3400 34th St. N "is becoming an unfortunate attraction for illegal dumping of trash/debris and home to vagrants. The proposal would significantly improve the aesthetics of the site and return it to a viable use." Neighbors argued they would rather see virtually anything on the site but a used car lot. "The only thing worse would be a topless place," said Judith Kitides. EDC members said they did not see a real difference between the looks of a restaurant parking lot or a used car lot, adding that it is not the EDC's place to dictate the use of a property.
DAYCARE CENTER: A special exception and site plan was approved for the construction of a 120-child daycare center at 3455-3471 21st Ave. S. The proposed center received strong support from the Childs Park and TwinBrooks neighborhood associations. Nearby Alpine Health and Rehabilitation Center (3456 21st Ave. S) said its staff has 28 children between the ages of 2 and 12 who could use the new daycare center, and the 50 seniors served by Alpine would "love the company" offered in possible joint programs.
FLORIDA POWER SUBSTATION: Despite objections of a number of neighbors concerned over health issues, the EDC approved a special exception and site plan for expansion of an existing Florida Power utility substation at 4055 13th Ave. N. A Florida Power representative said the expansion was needed to relieve overloaded power capacity in the area.
ELDER CARE FACILITY: The EDC approved a site plan modification that would allow expansion of Georgia's Place, an elder care facility at 2101 Seventh St. S. A 700-square-foot addition to an existing building will add six beds.
STREET VACATED: A portion of 16th Street NE, north of 60th Terrace NE was vacated at the request of adjacent property owners. The unimproved roadway is a dead-end right-of-way lying between the affected properties and the Northeast Wastewater Treatment Plant. The EDC agreed with its staff that an improved roadway in the easement was "both unnecessary and undesirable."
The Environmental Development Commission is a citizens board that meets the first Wednesday of each month to review large development projects. The board reviews and approves site plans and has the power to grant exceptions to city codes for elements of projects that do not conform. Decisions of the commission can be appealed within 10 days to the City Council. After approval, the petitioner has the city's permission to go forward, although further scrutiny may be required by other governing agencies.