How Can Crest Lake Park be Improved?

From spending more time in the park to getting the bathrooms reopened, residents and neighbors near Clearwater's Skycrest neighborhood shared their thoughts on how to improve Crest Lake Park in recent stories.

For more of an opportunity to voice your opinion, a Skycrest Neighbors Association meeting to discuss potential programming, events and improvements at Crest Lake Park is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 29, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2001 Rainbow Dr.

Residents in the Skycrest neighborhood are disturbed and scared since the murder of Jason Paul, who was on his way home from work when he was stabbed to death near the park Jan. 6.

The president of the Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition and Paul's grandmother shared their thoughts in comments on recent Patch stories regarding the safety of Crest Lake Park:

Carl Schrader: “Crest Lake Park needs to be respected as a dear and treasured Clearwater asset. I have started a 30 day personal challenge to spend at least one hour per day in the park interviewing and talking to as many park users as I can. Through these conversations I hope to get a better perspective of what this park provides and means to the people that visit the park. I plan to meet with the Skycrest Neighborhood Association (SNA) on January 29th to discuss potential activities and event programming possibilities so that more desired users are attracted to the park. I am reaching out and contacting other municipalities in an effort to see how those municipalities have created successful local parks. If you believe in Crest Lake Park then I hope you will get involved too. The January 29th SNA meeting will be one opportunity. As president of the Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition (CNC), I am privileged and honored to serve as an advocate for the citizens of Clearwater. Our organization unanimously supports the efforts of the SNA to get these restrooms re-opened and will present a formal request to Clearwater's City Council. Thank you.”

Marylin Paul: “This was my grandson that was murdered by the park. Please do something to help make this park safer in the future so no family has to go through what we are going through.”

Theodore Braden: “I have encountered couple of very territorial, aggressive homeless people in that area. I wouldn't be surprised if one of them were responsible.”

Other readers shared their views on Clearwater Patch's Facebook page:

Starr Roberts: “Crest Lake was my favorite park as a child, it's so sketchy now, I never take my own small children there. I hope they will clean it up.”

Jeanne Brennan Coleman: “Won't go there anymore since the bathrooms are closed up but never felt unsafe there anymore than anywhere else in town.”

If you go:

What: Skycrest Neighbors meeting

When: 7 p.m. Jan. 29

Where: Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2001 Rainbow Dr.

Related coverage:

• Stabbing Sparks Question of Safety at Crest Lake Park
• Parents, Coworkers Remember Stabbing Victim Jason Paul
• Skycrest Neighborhood Shaken in Wake of Stabbing
• Clearwater Police Search for Clues in Crest Lake Park Stabbing
• Clearwater Police Investigate Homicide Near Crest Lake Park
• Clearwater Police Ask Public for Help to Solve Homicide Near Crest Lake Park