Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor: Pricey Playground Planned for Pier 60 Park

The president of the Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition reacts to potential plans to bring nearly $600,000 in improvements to Pier 60 Park, which includes more than half of the cost for a sandcastle playground structure.

The following was submitted to Patch by Carl Schrader, president of the Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition:   The Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition became aware of the Pier 60 Park playground expansion at our September 12, 2011 meeting when a city employee presented this information to us.  Since grant funds were going to be used, which is sometimes the case with capital projects; the grant conferring agency required a public presentation.  Our organization is frequently the audience for these types of presentations so this was not unusual. During the presentation the speaker was interrupted on more than one instance by audience members made up of neighborhood representatives.  The concern was that there were other parks that needed …

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Pricey Playground Eyed for Clearwater Beach

City leaders hope to install a mega-playground, as well as a U.S. military flag plaza, to help boost Clearwater Beach as a tourist destination.

Clearwater Beach has long been a playground for boaters and nightclubbers. Now it aims to become a playground for the youngest set of tourists: Kids. The city is moving to create the Florida playground of a child's dreams, complete with a mega-play structure that resembles a giant sandcastle. The pricetag is nearly a half-million dollars, and the location is at Pier 60 Park, the tourism epicenter of Clearwater Beach. City leaders see the new playground as a draw for tourists with young children. "This will be a signature playground that will welcome visitors to the most touristy part of our town," Clearwater spokeswoman Joelle Castelli told the Tampa Bay Times. In addition, the city plans to install a $100,000 flag plaza, which will …

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Upgrades Coming to Pier 60

City leaders unanimously approved $498,096 in repairs to portions of the concrete deck and pilings, replace railings and install a catwalk around the bait house at Pier 60 at their meeting Thursday at City Hall.

Clearwater Beach’s landmark structure is getting a nearly $500,000 facelift in January. City leaders unanimously approved spending $498,096 to repair portions of the concrete deck and pilings, replace railings and install a catwalk around the bait house at Pier 60 at their meeting Thursday at City Hall. The project is expected to take 180 days, starting in January, which would include construction time during Spring Break. Any work during that time still would allow access and use of the pier. The work came as a result of Kisinger Campo and Associates findings that the main structure is sound. However, they recommended several repairs to minimize concrete water intrusion after inspecting the structure last year.  The project also inlcudes …

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Brian Spear

9:54 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012

Look forward to seeing this when it's all said and done!   more ›

$500K in Upgrades Could Come to Pier 60

City leaders are expected to approve spending nearly $500,000 to repair portions of the concrete deck and pilings, replace railings and install a catwalk around the bait house at Pier 60 at their meeting Thursday at City Hall.

Clearwater Beach’s landmark structure is expected to undergo a nearly $500,000 facelift. City leaders are expected to approve spending nearly $498,096 to repair portions of the concrete deck and pilings, replace railings and install a catwalk around the bait house at Pier 60 at their meeting Thursday at City Hall. The project is expected to take 180 days, starting in January, which would include construction time during Spring Break. Any work during that time still would allow access and use of the pier. Councilmember Paul Gibson asked why the project should start at a time that would have construction crews hitting hammers while tourists are spiking volleyballs for Spring Break.  “That is the 60-day window where all of our businesses make…

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TriRock Triathlon Could Impact Traffic in Clearwater

Drivers could experience traffic delays as the LandRover TriRock Clearwater Triathlon course ventures through Clearwater, Belleair, Largo and Dunedin.

Drivers should allow extra time and expect possible delays if traveling in the areas of a 24-mile triathlon race route Sunday. Residents and visitors may experience temporary road closures and traffic delays from 6 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 11 as competitors trek through Clearwater and parts of Belleair, Largo and Dunedin for the LandRover TriRock Clearwater Triathlon. Drivers trying to access the Clearwater roundabout from South Beach to travel east on the Memorial Causeway, will need to use the Belleair Causeway. The course has a single loop, warm water swim in the Gulf of Mexico, followed by a flat, single loop bike course. The triathlon finishes with a flat single loop run course along Clearwater Harbor and the beach. The sprint …

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Sunday Sunset

Sunday Sunset: I Got One

Take a moment to enjoy one of the reasons to live in Clearwater.

Gary Mankowsky might not have won our Facebook Cover Photo Contest, but his picture of a fisherman on a boat off Pier 60 Jan. 1 is our latest Sunday Sunset. The October Facebook Cover Contest is underway, so if you have not already submitted an entry what are you waiting for? And, as always, if you have a sunset photo you would like to share with readers feel free to send it to jared.leone@patch.com. Apparent sunset: 5:47 p.m.

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'Photo Walks' Planned for Clearwater Beach on Saturday

Get out your camera for Worldwide Photo Walk on Clearwater Beach with fellow photography enthusiasts.

For photographers of all skills levels and with all types of equipment — from consumer-grade point-and-shoots to high-end professional cameras — Saturday is the fifth annual Worldwide Photo Walk, and two local walks are planned for Clearwater Beach. Worldwide Photo Walk is a free social photography event organized by Scott Kelby, the president of the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Volunteer walk leaders guide groups of up to 50 photographers on a tour of an interesting or photogenic area. The official cutoff date to lead a walk was Oct. 1, but there is still time to register to be a photo walker. In 2011, there were more than 1,000 photo walks around the globe, an upwards of 28,000 participants, according to the Worldwide…

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Super Boat Race Coming to Clearwater Beach Sunday

The Bright House Super Boat National Championship and Seafood Festival will be held this weekend, Sept. 28-30.

Powerboats will be thundering off Clearwater Beach at the Bright House Super Boat National Championship and Seafood Festival this weekend. The festivities kick off Friday with VIP and block parties, boat parade and a meet-and-greet and photo session with the racers and their boats. The fun continues with a fireworks display on Saturday. The races start at noon Sunday on Pier 60. Visit clearwatersuperboat.com for more details. If you've got pictures, upload them to this story by clicking the "Add Photos & Video" button. Related coverage: Super Boat Race to Wake Up Clearwater Beach

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Last Chance to See Clearwater's Dolphins This Weekend

The public art exhibit, The Pod at Pier 60, is on display through Sept. 4.

Labor Day weekend is your last chance to see Clearwater's Dolphins, The Pod at Pier 60. The public art exhibit, which features 70 individually designed, 6-foot-tall dolphin sculptures in the Pier 60 Park on Clearwater Beach, will be up until the evening of Sept. 4. After that, sponsors decide where to display or donate their individual dolphins when they leave the park. The pod started with 50 dolphins and then continued to grow after they were put on display, with another 20 arriving. The locations of all 70 dolphins once they leave the park will be indicated on a Dolphin Pod Trail map, according to a City of Clearwater spokesperson. The dolphins have been on display throughout August, including during this week's Republican National …

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Jason Bartolone

9:28 am on Monday, September 3, 2012

Just to clarify: The dolphins are on display through Tuesday evening, according to the exhibit's Facebook page. Go check them out!   more ›

5 Things to Do This Weekend: Aug. 3-5

Here are our picks for fun things to do this weekend in Clearwater. Have an idea of your own? Share it in the comments!

1. Musical, "Disney's Beauty and the Beast." Ruth Eckerd Hall presents a romantic musical this weekend for all ages based on the Disney film about an intelligent beauty named Belle and a Beast who has been cursed until he can learn to love. 2. Movies on the Pier: "The Lion King." Sunsets at Pier 60 presents this free movie Friday night, weather permitting. Beach towels, blankets, or lawn chairs welcome. Concessions available. No alcohol, please. 3. Back to School Open House. Come to open house and learn about the curriculum at Clearwater Children's Learning. This event is open to the community, so bring your family and friends. There will be entertainment, child-centered activities and prizes. 4. Sunrise Chapel Summer Splash Arts & Crafts …

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