HOLMES BEACH – The city’s parks are now open to both residents and visitors alike.
Mayor Judy Titsworth made the announcement during the May 12 city commission meeting, held via teleconference, that all of the city’s parks were reopened to the public as long as groups in each area were kept to no more than 10 people at one time and everyone practices social distancing. If crowds at city parks become a problem, she added that she would consider closing them again.
In addition to the skate park, large dog park, basketball courts and tennis/pickleball courts, Titsworth said the new playground is finished and open for children to play. Commissioner Kim Rash is helping public works employees install a fence around the playground in the coming weeks.
Also newly completed are the shuffleboard courts, though Titsworth said they still need to have benches and a scoreboard installed.
“They are beautiful,” Titsworth said.
The remodeled small dog park is scheduled to open by the end of May. While the rest of the city’s park facilities are open to the public, the multi-use field at the city field complex remains temporarily closed due to re-sodding.
HOLMES BEACH – City leaders and community members had an unpleasant surprise Monday, Feb. 24, when they discovered that the brand new Community Skate Park had been decorated with graffiti.
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that there were no leads as to who vandalized the skate park, but if anyone has any information, please contact the HBPD at 941-708-5807.
The skate park officially opened to the public on Feb. 15. Graffiti was spray-painted onto the skate park around the edges of the street park and around the top of the skate bowl.
While public works employees worked during the day to remove the spray paint, Mayor Judy Titsworth said it was some unnamed community members who really made the paint disappear. During the Feb. 25 commission meeting, Titsworth thanked the anonymous people and asked that they share with city leaders what was used to clean the paint off of the concrete park. She said that the cleaner worked so well to remove the paint that the city would like to acquire some of it to address any future issues as well as to finish cleaning the existing graffiti.
“We’d like to sincerely thank whoever cleaned the graffiti at the park,” Tokajer said.
Though there aren’t any suspects yet in the skate park tagging, Tokajer said he now has a camera on the skate park to deter any future graffiti artists from painting the park.
HOLMES BEACH – After months of anticipation and a lot of help from the community, the city’s new Community Skate Park finally opened Feb. 15.
A cheer went up from community members and local skaters as the ribbon was cut, officially opening the park to the public. Mayor Judy Titsworth said the park was being called the Community Skate Park because, without the community, she said the park couldn’t have been built. For the ribbon-cutting, she called up Island residents David Zaccagnino and Tom Sanger to join the city and Manatee County elected officials and staff. Zaccagnino worked with city leaders to help secure the $100,000 in donations necessary to build the bowl section of the skate park. Sanger not only helped to raise funds, materials and labor, he also stepped up to create the concrete skate path from the bowl to the promenade section of the skate park.
“Tom poured his heart and soul into this skate park,” Titsworth said, thanking him for his contributions.
To thank the many local community members and businesses who contributed to the skate park, a banner was placed on the fencing lining the back of the park identifying the dozens of contributors.
“Take a look at this banner and when you see these people out in the community, tell them ‘thank you,’ ” Tokajer said of the skate park’s donors.
Dozens of skaters of all ages came out and took to the new skate park, trying out the ramps, rails, quarter pipe and other obstacles, though one of the most popular attractions was the skate bowl, which was newly opened for public use. Skaters lined up for their chance to skate through the bowl.
When they needed a break, staff from Poppo’s Taqueria and The Beach Bistro were on hand with tacos and hotdogs. City staff handed out drinks, along with T-shirts and baseball caps commemorating the occasion. The team from West Coast Surf Shop brought along a new skateboard, which was won by Ben Rigney Jr.
“It’s a great day,” Commissioner Kim Rash said, looking out at all of the people gathered to celebrate community in Holmes Beach.
Some skaters attempted tricks, like this one who practically flew on the quarter pipe. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Master mind behind the new Community Skate Park, Tito Porrata of Pivot joins elected officials for a celebratory photo. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Skaters raised their boards in salute, joining community members and elected officials as the ribbon was cut, officially opening the Community Skate Park. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Some skaters attempted tricks on the many obstacles throughout the skate park. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Skaters of all ages took to the new Community Skate Park in Holmes Beach during the grand opening party Feb. 15. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Commissioner Kim Rash, with his puppy Lucy, Director of Development Services Eran Wasserman, HBPD Officer Josh Fleischer, Commissioner Carol Soustek, Code Compliance Officer Nate Brown and City Treasurer Lori Hill hang out at the opening of the city’s new skate park. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Vendors including Poppo’s Taqueria, West Coast Surf Shop and The Beach Bistro came out to support the opening of the new skate park. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Skaters glided down rails and jumped obstacles on the promenade skate area. - Kristin Swain | Sun
Some of the people responsible for helping to get the skate park built, including designer Tito Porrata of Pivot, HBPD Chief Bill Tokajer, Mayor Judy Titsworth, City Engineer Lynn Burnett, Director of Development Services Eran Wasserman and Tom Sanger of Sanger Pool and Spa, celebrate in the skate bowl. - Kristin Swain | Sun
One of the most popular parts of the skate park was the one that almost wasn’t built. Skaters lined up for the chance to skate the park’s bowl. - Kristin Swain | Sun
HOLMES BEACH – Projects at the city field complex are underway and showing signs of significant progress, however, some residents are concerned about what the finished product will look like.
City Engineer Lynn Burnett presented plans for the expanded large dog park, multi-use field, walking track and skate park during the Nov. 19 city commission meeting.
Work is already underway in both the skate park and the dog park with drainage work completed in the dog park and elements already being installed at the site of the new skate park. The dog park is currently planned for a December or January grand opening while the skate park is planned to open to the public shortly after. Other openings, including for the multi-use field and tot lot playground are expected later in the new year. Rather than having a single grand opening for the park complex, each area is now expected to have its own public opening.
Workers break up the concrete pad that once housed the city’s tot lot playground equipment in preparation for the installation of the new skate park. – Kristin Swain | Sun
Though the construction is visibly moving forward now, there are some residents who are still concerned about what final product will be unveiled to the public, particularly in the dog park.
Though Burnett presented plans for the dog park, including the fencing, two double gates, a water fountain, seating area for patrons and a fire hydrant-style splash pad for dogs, several dog park users present at the meeting still had questions about what will be included in the park.
Resident Mary Miller said that she feels the overall message coming from city hall concerning the dog park is fear for users that decisions will be made without public knowledge. She said she doesn’t mind seating being moved from the old pavilion, which Development Services Director Eran Wasserman says is in no condition to be moved from the current dog park location, but that she wants to know about the alignment of the benches before they’re installed.
“We just want input,” she said.
Parks and beautification committee member Carol Hatz said she feels that using the old dugout area as seating is too far removed from the majority of the dog park and fears that people will not use it. Wasserman said that the intention is to put in U-shaped seating areas where park patrons can visit and can still have a good view of their pets.
Mayor Judy Titsworth said that her door is always open to residents concerned about the dog park or any other elements of city field. She invited the community to reach out and call either herself or Wasserman with any questions.
Drainage work is completed at the site of the new large Holmes Beach dog park. – Kristin Swain | Sun
For the majority of the elements of the dog park, including ground cover, Titsworth said that Burnett and her team are deferring to suggestions made previously by members of the city’s parks and beautification committee. The suggestions were formed over a period of a year with input from dog park users. She said that fencing in the dog park is expected to go up within the first 10 days of December with construction on the dugouts, turning them into welcoming pavilions for patrons, beginning soon as well.
Commissioner Carol Soustek said that while the plans for what will be taking place in the dog park are done for now, it doesn’t mean that they’re set in stone. She said she envisions the dog park as an evolving element of the city field complex and that changes and additional upgrades will be made as needed over time.
“I think the parks and beautification committee did a tremendous job,” she said.
Titsworth reemphasized how important she feels the dog park is to the city as a whole.
“It’s an important feature for our community and I want the dogs to love it,” she said.
HOLMES BEACH – A last-minute funding scare caused city leaders and staff to leap into action along with community members.
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said that though funds had been promised to help fund the bowl for the new city skate park, when it came time to tell the team from Pivot Custom, a division of American Ramp Company, whether or not the city would be commissioning the bowl, she discovered that only $28,000 of the $100,000 was available.
With only three days to raise the remaining $72,000, Titsworth, Police Chief Bill Tokajer, Code Compliance Officer James Thomas and resident David Zaccagnino took to the phones and social media to help raise the money for the bowl.
Local residents and contractors stepped up to donate funds, supplies and construction materials equaling enough funds to have Pivot build the bowl addition to the skate park, designed by Tito Porrata and his team. Construction to remove the bocce ball, shuffleboard and old tot lot and build the new promenade-style skate park with a Y-shaped, four-foot-deep bowl is already underway along Marina Drive at the city field.
“It was amazing to be a part of that team, to find that money and get it done,” Titsworth said of the fundraising effort during a Nov. 13 Coalition of Barrier Island Elected Officials meeting. “It was amazing the generosity of the citizens this time of year. I mean, it was beautiful.”
She added that additional funds of $30,000 also had been raised to purchase new playground equipment for the tot lot, planned to be relocated near the pavilion at city field. Landscaping also was donated for the city’s new dog park.
As a thank you to the residents and business owners who stepped up to donate to the bowl, Sean Murphy donated a $250 gift card to Beach Bistro and former commissioner Rick Hurst donated a $250 gift card to The Freckled Fin to be given to two of the donors in a drawing.
The dog park is planned to open in December with the skate park opening in January or February followed by the opening of the tot lot and multi-use field.
HOLMES BEACH – The preliminary designs are in for the city’s new cement skate park, but funds are still needed to construct the bowl addition.
Tito Porrata, lead designer and project manager with American Ramp Company, and City Engineer Lynn Burnett presented the preliminary designs for the promenade-style skate park and accompanying bowl.
Porrata said the skate park would be a beginner to intermediate street-style course featuring ramps, rails, stairs, triangles, banks, hips and a quarter pipe.
“All the basics within a modest size,” he said of the design.
The promenade section of the skate park is planned to be about 5,000 square feet.
Funding is still sought to build a Y-shaped skate bowl over a retention pond along Marina Drive. – Submitted
Though Porrata said the course is good as-is, he highly recommended adding the Y-shaped bowl he designed to accompany the skate park to make it “complete.” To build the bowl, the city is still seeking a donor or multiple donors to help raise the $100,000 additional funds needed for the structure. If the bowl is to be built, construction has to take place at the same time the rest of the skate park is built to keep the cost of the addition low.
If built, Porrata said the bowl would be about three and a half to four feet deep and stick out of the ground about three feet.
“If a donor happens, this bowl is ready,” he said.
Commissioners nodded their approval of the designs and Mayor Judy Titsworth took the opportunity to ask that anyone considering helping to fund the bowl contact her at city hall.
“I hope you guys like it,” Porrata said of the skate park designs. “It’s going to be really fun.”
Final design deliverables for the skate park are expected during the July 23 commission meeting.
HOLMES BEACH – City engineer Lynn Burnett gave a presentation on capital improvement projects during the June 27 commission meeting and gave commissioners hope that progress will soon be seen in city parks.
Burnett opened her presentation with a bit of surprising news: Holmes Beach property owner Nora Scholan is willing to donate 26 acres of waterfront property to the city to extend Grassy Point Preserve. Burnett said all that Scholan asks in return is access through a city right of way to a half acre buildable plot of land adjacent to the land being donated. Burnett suggested the new addition be named Hames Preserve after Scholan’s family.
“I think this is a great, great opportunity,” Commissioner Carol Soustek said. “We do appreciate it very much.”
Commissioners agreed to the deal and Burnett said she’d bring contracts back to the July 9 meeting.
At Spring Lake, Burnett said the water would soon be bubbling as the aeration system is scheduled for installation and is expected to be operational by the end of July. The aeration system will push air bubbles to the surface of the water, helping to refresh the water column and dissipate some of the remaining acidity in the water.
Burnett also said that work is scheduled to begin on grading and installation of stormwater drainage at the new location for the city’s dog park following the July 9 meeting. With work getting started, the hope is that the park will be fully operational before the winter season begins.
This mockup of the new Holmes Beach skate park is about to be replaced with an updated design of what the park will look like.
Drainage and ground preparation work also are beginning following the July 9 meeting for the Holmes Beach Skate Park. Burnett said that new designs for that park will be delivered to commissioners during the July 9 meeting, including designs for the additional bowl area for which she said a donor may have been identified to help fund.
Commissioners continued discussions about the possibility of adding a 900-square-foot splash pad to the entrance to the city park complex. With major concerns about safety, maintenance, high cost and maintaining the health of people who use the splash pad, commissioners eventually dismissed the idea with Commissioner Jim Kihm the only one in favor of continuing discussions.
“Well, I tried,” he said when the consensus was taken to not move forward with a splash pad.
HOLMES BEACH – The city’s current skate park may be going away but a new one is in the works, one that includes a 5,000 square-foot plaza section and may even have a skating bowl if funds can be raised.
City engineer Lynn Burnett and American Ramp Company lead designer Tito Porrata appeared before commissioners Dec. 11 to present a concept design for the new Holmes Beach skate park. The design was met with overwhelming approval by city commissioners and the local skateboarding community.
“I’m pleasantly surprised by the quality of this design,” Commissioner Jim Kihm said.
Porrata presented a design for a 5,000 square-foot plaza with a quarter pipe, flat rails, pyramids and ledges for skaters to practice on. The plaza is set to be created primarily of cement with some different materials used for various skating elements. Rather than fencing in the park, he suggested using a natural fence created by landscaping that would allow police officers to see into the park from the road but also trap any wayward skateboards and help protect skaters from wayward vehicles that might find their way off the roadway. He also presented an idea for an additional skating area, a 2,000 square-foot, three to four feet deep skating bowl placed over the existing retention pond at the corner of Marina Drive near city hall.
This view shows how the proposed layout for the new plaza-style skate park will look when gazing to the north down Marina Drive. – Submitted
While the design and construction of the plaza area are projected to cost $150,000, taking the city’s entire available budget for the skate park, the bowl would cost another $100,000. To install the additional section, Burnett said the city would either have to acquire the additional funds through grants or fundraising, ideally before construction is finished on the plaza section to eliminate additional mobilization costs. Construction on the plaza is expected to be complete by the end of 2019.
Local skateboarder Jack Coleman said he thinks the proposed new park will be amazing. “If the bowl is added,” he said, “I’ll have zero reason to leave the Island ever.”
Another local skateboarder Matt Bauer said he likes the bowl transition but if that doesn’t come to fruition, he still approves of the new plaza design for the skate park. “It’s a great design,” he said. “I’m stoked. This is awesome.”
“I am stoked as well,” Mayor Judy Titsworth said, “and I’m not a skater.” She added that her nephews who are skaters are happy commissioners are considering the bowl addition.
Commissioners approved the plaza design along with the bowl design and gave Burnett the green light to move forward in the design phase with the caveat that construction of the bowl can be added at a later date if the funds are raised. Commissioner Kim Rash suggested pursuing grants, fundraising and also potential business or residential sponsorship of different park elements to help raise the additional $100,000 for the bowl.
With commission approval for the new park, Burnett said she would move forward with the demolition of the current skate park, which will become a staging area, move construction equipment from the current staging area by the small dog park and begin work on the dog park and skate park.
Kihm said that after all of the discussion, he’s “glad to see things moving to the implementation phase.”
HOLMES BEACH – A new plan is on the table for the city field complex and commissioners are ready to start seeing progress made on the planned renovations.
After going through a few different attempts, City Engineer Lynn Burnett, with the help of commissioners and public input, finally hit on a layout for the complex that meets the needs of users and helps to better utilize the space.
With the newly approved layout, the large dog park will expand to .86 acres and take over much of the current baseball diamond and outfield leading to the fence separating the field with the small dog park. The small dog park is staying in its current location. During construction on the park complex, planned for the current and 2019-2020 fiscal years, Burnett said the large dog park will remain open for users until the new one can be completed.
Bocce ball courts, horseshoe pits and shuffleboard courts will be relocated to part of the area currently used as the large dog park. The construction staging area on the northeast side of the park will be relocated to the current skate park area, adjacent to public works. Parking will take up the current staging area. The tot lot is planned for relocation near the existing gazebo, where it can be expanded in the future, and the skate park is planned for expansion along Marina Drive. Burnett also suggested ringing the complex with a jogging track with exercise stations and utilizing the area in front of public works as a future overflow parking area. She said the Anna Maria Island Privateer’s Skullywag land-bound ship would not have to be relocated.
The remaining park area is planned as a multipurpose field that can be used for festivals, community events, or bases can be laid down for a pickup baseball game.
A memorial tree with dedication plaque located in the Marina Drive facing area of the park complex will remain in its current location.
Commissioners agreed unanimously to move forward with the proposed plan. Burnett said that while the tot lot can be relocated in-house using public works employees, she will have to come back before commissioners with contracts to be approved for the other work to be done.
“I like it,” Commissioner Pat Morton said of the project.
“I think it’s great,” Commissioner Rick Hurst said, congratulating Burnett on a job well-done.
HOLMES BEACH – City Engineer Lynn Burnett has a new plan for city field and it’s one that commissioners are more willing to get behind.
Burnett said her new plan takes into account the history of city field and the many residents who have donated to the project and the dedicated trees and equipment in the complex. In the hopes of meeting both the requirements of the city’s comprehensive plan and providing the amenities residents and visitors are looking for, Burnett suggests creating a large parking area on the western side of the property along Marina Drive, relocating the skate park and large dog park nearer to the city-owned basketball courts, realigning the baseball field and moving the tot lot next to the existing gazebo.
She suggested building shuffleboard and horseshoe courts near the skate park with bocce ball courts near the dog park. She suggested using the existing skate park area as a staging area for city contractors and public works projects.
By moving the skate park and the dog park, Burnett said the two potentially loudest noisemakers in the complex would be relocated as far as possible from residential neighbors. By placing parking along Marina Drive, she added the park would have a focal entrance point and the city would be able to provide more on-site parking for large events.
She recommended a slight realignment of the baseball field to close to the center of the complex and leaving the outfield without a fence to allow for more space for special events in the park. Ultimately, she said a walking/jogging track could be added with some exercise stations around the perimeter of the park with little additional cost to the city.
Burnett presented commissioners with an estimate of costs, not including the creation of the off-street parking facility, of $300,600 to be divided evenly over the 2018-19 and 2019-20 fiscal years.
While commissioners were primarily in favor of the project, City Attorney Patricia Petruff suggested that Burnett may have overlooked one important item – overflow parking for the nearby city boat ramp.
Commissioner Pat Morton agreed, saying that during season he sees several boats parked in the lot adjacent to the city basketball courts, where Burnett proposes to relocate the large dog park. To resolve the issue, Commissioner Rick Hurst suggested swapping the location of the small and large dog parks with the proposed parking area on Marina Drive. He said the location would allow for dogs to be kept away from where they may disturb residents, there already are a large number of trees in the area and part of the enlarged parking area could be designated for overflow boat ramp parking when needed.
Commissioner Judy Titsworth said she liked the ideas presented by Burnett but that the project needs public input from local stakeholders. She also suggested Burnett develop a map of where memorial trees, benches, and other items will be placed so that donors can see where their items are located in the complex.
“I like it,” Commissioner Carol Soustek said of the new concept. She agreed that there are changes that may need to be made to the proposal but that the project should be presented to the public for comment and review before commissioners vote to take action.
Burnett agreed to work with the city’s parks and beautification committee to reach out to local stakeholders and set up a public workshop.
Once work begins, she said it would take about two weeks to relocate the tot lot, four to five months to work on the dog parks, and if a design is approved by commissioners by February 2019, construction could take place May through September of 2019, allowing the park to open just in time for season. If commissioners vote to approve the plan when it comes before them in a regular meeting, she said some projects could be done in conjunction with the public input phase, such as the demolition of the existing skate park.
HOLMES BEACH – The budget process is underway in Holmes Beach, and one thing for commissioners to consider is the possibility of a complete renovation at the city field park complex, located next to city hall.
As a part of her proposed expenditures in the 2018-19 fiscal year from monies gained from the half-cent sales tax, City Engineer Lynn Burnett presented commissioners with one of the options for remodeling the park complex. In the proposed option, Burnett suggested placing the large dog park over the current parking area at the corner of Flotilla Drive and 62nd Street with the small dog park behind it.
A pickleball court, followed by shuffleboard and bocce ball courts, would be located just to the south followed by the tot park and the skate park, located directly in front of the existing pavilion. The baseball field would be turned into a multi-use field with off-street parking and a focal entry point on Marina Drive. The plan also includes contingencies for storm debris disposal areas and a staging area for construction projects.
For a total renovation of the park, Burnett estimates it will cost around $400,000 and will require more than one fiscal year to complete. In the 2018-19 fiscal year budget, $125,000 is allocated for remodel of the park along with an additional $50,000 earmarked for dog park improvements.
Commissioner Judy Titsworth said while it’s important for the city to invest in the renovation of the park complex for the residents, particularly in the dog and skate parks, she’s not sure the initial plan presented by Burnett is the best plan for the area. Her concern is that having the skate park located near Flotilla Drive homes would be too loud for residents.
Mayor Bob Johnson said the concept presented is just one of the available options, and there are more discussions to be had before any plan is finalized.
HOLMES BEACH – Members of the local skateboarding community aren’t happy with designs for the rehabilitation of the city’s skate park, but they’re willing to help city leaders get it right.
“This design is really bad,” Jack Coleman said after seeing the proposed layout and equipment for the park at a City Commission work session April 26.
Corey Wash said the material used for pre-fabricated pieces for the park is outdated and would make more noise than a concrete skate park. He said using concrete could be more cost-efficient for the city and require less upkeep than a pre-fabricated park.
“Pre-fab parks become prehistoric in the world of skateboarding,” he said.
Wash suggested expanding the skate park and relocating the adjacent toddler park.
“I’ve never liked the toddler park there,” Commissioner Judy Titsworth said of the small playground’s current location bordering Marina Drive.
Casey Coleman said he feels if the skate park was updated to allow the inclusion of skaters at all levels it would help build the skateboarding community on the Island and keep children from traveling into downtown Bradenton to skate.
In addition to building the park out of concrete, expanding it and possibly including a skate bowl, another suggestion was to add lights to the park to allow for skating after sunset, especially during the hot summer months.
Wash volunteered to help Burnett come up with a better design for the redevelopment of the park.
Titsworth said she’d like Burnett to look at “the bigger picture” of the entire park complex, including the skate park, toddler park, baseball diamond and city field when making her next recommendations for the skate park.
“The Island park means a lot to us,” Matt Bower said.
“Thank you for even looking into this again,” Roberto Rodriguez said.
Burnett thanked all the skaters for attending the meeting and speaking up about what they’d like to see in the park. She said she would be following up with them on suggestions and hopes they’ll all be back to offer input when a new design is presented to commissioners.
HOLMES BEACH – The money is ready and waiting to be spent on improvements to the dog and skate parks.
Commissioners unanimously approved a budget amendment to move $50,000 from other accounts to the city’s Parks and Beautification Committee for dog park improvements. The funds do not add to the city’s budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year or impact other projects. City Treasurer Lori Hill said the money is being pulled from the city’s general government contingency fund, leaving $50,000 remaining in the account. She said because the funds were not used in the previous year, unless the contingency fund needs to be used to help pay for hurricane storm cleanup she doesn’t see the city using any of the general contingency funds, making it a good place to pull from for the dog park.
Commissioner Pat Morton said he wants to make sure the residents on neighboring Flotilla Drive are consulted before any changes are made to the dog park. He said he’d spoken with some who are concerned about the noise impact of increasing the park’s size.
Commissioner Carol Soustek suggested that anyone with concerns or suggestions for the park reach out to the city’s Parks and Beautification Committee, which is handling the early stages of dog park improvements.
For the skate park, Hill said the funds would come from different discretionary funds which already have line items for park improvements, negating the need for another budget amendment. Rather than stretching the improvements out over the next several years, City Planner Lynn Burnett said all of the funds for the skate park will be used in the current fiscal year, pushing some projects, such as curb replacement, out to other fiscal years. The current amount allocated to the skate park is $100,000.
With the limited amount of space available, Burnett, who is leading the project, said it would be difficult to spend that amount of money to provide upgrades and replacement of aging equipment in the park. Before work begins, she said an expert is coming down from Canada to evaluate the project and provide suggestions. A timeline for the project has not yet been established.
Funds for the skate park are being used from a discretionary tax which requires certain amounts be spent each fiscal year in different categories, including parks and recreation. Hill said part of the funds for the skate park will come from the five-cent gas tax proceeds while other will come from the new half-cent infrastructure tax.
