Petition seeks to prevent restrooms at new park
provided
The new public restrooms at the six lots would be
located where the gold colored building in the lowered
right hand side of this graphic.
ANNA MARIA – A resident has started a petition campaign asking city commissioners to not approve public restrooms for the six lots at North Bay Boulevard and Pine Avenue.
Marsha Lindsey, who lives in Bayou condos, wrote to commissioners saying she and others would petition the city to eliminate the restrooms from the plan, which City Commissioner Gene Aubry drew up.
Aubry’s plan called for two restrooms with slatted walls for ventilation. The only power would be for lighting, and there would be a toilet and sink and little more.
In her Aug. 8 letter to the commission, she said the city sold one park with restrooms, Bayfront Park, to the county because the maintenance would be too expensive.
In reality, the city turned over maintenance and upkeep of Bayfront Park to the county in the 1970s, but the city kept ownership of the property.
In her letter, Lindsey said the restrooms would be used more by non-residents than residents and the city gets nothing.
“The increased traffic on Pine carries the increased risk for safety hazards as more and more wheeled vehicles crowd the tiny sidewalk and right of ways, she wrote. “We are left with the garbage, inconvenience and potential for criminal mischief that the higher volume of people brings.”
She asked the commissioners to consider public opinion in determining whether to have the restrooms.
Lindsey’s letter says if the restrooms at Bayfront Park are inadequate to meet the needs of the visitors, the businesses on Pine Avenue should supply restroom facilities.
Some commissioners called for eliminating the restrooms when they discussed the lots, but the commission decided to go along with them since they are simple and would serve the needs of residents as well as visitors.
In an e-mail to friends, Lindsey said Building Official Bob Welch told her the city is considering moving the restrooms closer to Pine Avenue now. She said the city would be drilling a well for water and irrigation for the trees that would be planted there.
Resident Rex Hagen promised $60,000 toward construction of the park and the Pine Avenue Restoration promised $25,000 per year for four years.