Carl Schrader
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On the article Sandcastle Playground Cost A Concern to Residents
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On the article Sandcastle Playground Cost A Concern to Residents
Carl Schrader
11:17 am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013
ReplyPart One
This playground is part of a $600,000 renovation planned for Pier 60 Park. Mr. Dunbar said the playground has a projected cost of $330,000 and a 12 to 15 year life span. It is being built to expand on the existing playground. The city has determined that both resident and tourist youth need to play and exercise more.
The expanded playground will function as a way to curb obesity in both resident and tourist 5 to 12 year olds. Mr. Dunbar said that there were no studies done to determine how many 5 to 12 year old children were visitors to Pier 60 Park or residents of Clearwater Beach. Additionally, there were no studies done to determine what influence the 5 to 12 year old demographic has on dollars spent near Pier 60 Park or on Clearwater Beach.
Comparable playgrounds of size and stature could not possibly be built in other Clearwater parks as the city just does not have the funds for something like this. The city has a plan for other parks. The Long Center Sunshine Limitless Playground would be the upper end of what another city park could expect. -
On the article Champion Camphor Grows in Clearwater
Carl Schrader
10:27 am on Saturday, May 4, 2013
ReplyWhen I first saw this camphor tree I was amazed at its enormous size. It is impressive. Thanks for telling the story beyond the plaque.
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On the article Pricey Playground Eyed for Clearwater Beach
Carl Schrader
9:47 am on Thursday, April 18, 2013
ReplyThe beach playground upgrade was presented to the Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition, CNC, by a city representative at our September 12, 2011 meeting (the Flag Plaza was not mentioned or discussed at this meeting). Several neighborhood representatives were not in favor of the playground upgrade and made their objections known. The overall opinion was that even though a grant was being sought to fund a portion of this project, other playgrounds in Clearwater were in need of attention more than the beach playground ( http://www.clearwatercoalition.org/Pages/MeetingMinutes.aspx ). This opinion was not up for discussion and the priority was this project. In subsequent meetings with city council members and city managers while referencing this project, the CNC has been told on numerous occasions that there simply aren't funds or resources to do certain things in Clearwater and as citizens we need to keep this in mind.
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On the article Crest Lake Park Bathroom Demolition Vote Set for Thursday
Carl Schrader
3:33 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2013
ReplyA member of the Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition requested and obtained a Call for Service report from the Clearwater Police Department for Crest Lake Park. The report lists data pertaining to drug, alcohol and prostitution calls for a police response specific to the park. This report is from January 01, 2011 to March 22, 2013. Category information is sub-totaled so that readers can see the impact that welded doors have made in curtailing the illegal activity in the park. http://www.scribd.com/doc/133666386/Calls-for-Service-to-Crest-Lake-Park
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On the article Crest Lake Park Bathrooms Likely to Be Destroyed
Carl Schrader
2:58 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Mr. Dunbar, Director of Parks and Recreation, City of Clearwater said the restrooms have a minimum baseline cost of $35,000.00 per year to maintain. This includes daily cleaning, unlocking and locking of restroom doors. [ March 18th City Council Work Session http://clearwater.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=25 Agenda Item 10.3 Crest Lake Park ] At 3:30:40 on the work session video time line, he and Council Member Jonson discuss the cost to replace the facilities and the cost of upkeep. Representatives from Skycrest Neighbors Association were previously informed on another occasion that the cost to maintain all of Crest Lake Park is $ 86,000.00 per year. Nearly 41% of the cost to maintain Crest Lake Park for restroom cleaning and maintenance expenses seems a bit on the high side.
At least there is money in the Parks and Recreation budget for signs. [ March 5th City Council Work Session http://clearwater.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=25 Agenda Item 3.1 Best Beach Town Designation 1:00:05 on the video time line.
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On the article Events Set for Crest Lake Park
Carl Schrader
7:54 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
ReplyThe Spoken Word event scheduled for March 23rd has been re-scheduled to April 6th. The event starts at 6:30 PM and will go until 7:30 PM. This is a neighborhood/community sponsored event and some of the volunteers working on this had some unforeseen events happen. This is the reason for the re-schedule.
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On the article Road Closings For Hillcrest Traffic Calming Project Start This Week
Carl Schrader
2:01 pm on Wednesday, March 6, 2013
ReplyI live in this neighborhood. About 16 years ago some neighbors began talking and working together on ways to find solutions to reduce the number of cars that sped or cut through the neighborhood. The city met with the neighbors and told them that they could petition for traffic calming assistance . They needed to get a majority of the residents to agree to the traffic calming petition. I remember being a new resident and some neighbors approached me with a clipboard to sign the petition. Fast forward to 2013 and the physical work is now starting. There were many meetings and many neighbors involved at one time or another. These neighbors met with engineers, planners, designers and other specialists to review road designs, landscaping, lighting, pedestrian crossings and many more details that will eventually change the roads in the neighborhood. The first part of the physical work involves upgrading and modifying some storm water drainage systems. Here is a link to a video that shows what happens when it rains - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qmhs9yzmTjk I will try to upload or send some images to the ClearwaterPatch Editor that a neighbor sent me. These images show what happens after a heavy rain. The funds for this project came from the 1% sales sur tax, also known as "Penny for Pinellas." The majority of the neighbors are hoping that the end result of this is safer and well drained streets.
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On the article What Are Your Ideas For Fun At Crest Lake Park?
Carl Schrader
2:29 pm on Thursday, January 31, 2013
ReplyThanks Laurrie M, Michael D, and Michael C for the suggestions. The Skycrest Neighbors Association event committee meets tonight to set the tone for this challenge. I am hopeful that there will be some more information to share at our Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition meeting on Feb 4th. Doggy Date Night complete with K-9 Demo and Animal Health Services onsite, Glow in the Dark Bicycle Ride and a few other things are being discussed. Thanks everyone and keep those suggestions coming. I would like to see this park bring a lot of smiles to more faces.
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On the article Stabbing Sparks Question of Safety at Crest Lake Park
Carl Schrader
8:17 pm on Saturday, January 26, 2013
ReplyCrest 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.
Carl Schrader
11:18 am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Part Two
Since officials with the City of Clearwater have repeatedly informed the residents that there are no funds to maintain or do certain things it seems that this is a poor use of tax payer funds. On May 6th the Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition voted unanimously to oppose the expansion of this playground. On May 7th the Board Members of the Clearwater Beach Association voted unanimously to oppose the expansion of this playground. How do you vote?
As a resident it is up to you to make your thoughts known. The Clearwater City Council will discuss this item at 6:00 PM on May 16TH in the Council Chambers of the Clearwater City Hall. If you cannot attend this meeting then you should call or email your city council members to let them know what YOU think.