Crest Lake Park Bathrooms to Come Down

Julie Thompson is not sure how it got to this point.

Thompson, president of the East Gateway Business and Neighbors Association, was part of a committee that addressed homeless issues in the city with Dr. Robert Marbut.

Part of the plan included reducing amenities for the homeless, to include public restrooms, in an attempt to usher them into social services.

“We agreed to temporarily shut these bathrooms and it has snowballed to that we are going to demolish these... That’s not what it was all about,” she said. “The last thing we need is that park to die. That was not the intention when those bathrooms were shut.”

Even after the pleas from about 20 neighbors, the seven, open-air style bathrooms will be coming down within about 30 days.

City Leaders voted 3-2 to demolish the bathrooms at Crest Lake Park, with council members Bill Jonson and Jay Polglaze in opposition, during the city council meeting Thursday. It is expected to cost $9,000 to destroy them.

Neighborhood leaders hoped to convince the council to reopen the restrooms by March 7. They have been closed since June 11, 2012.

Shannon O’Leary-Beck brought photos of where people are using the bathrooms while the facilities have been welded shut, showing photos of toilet paper and feces near trees and the sidewalk.

“We are asking you not to demolish the bathrooms and at least reopen them for special events,” she said. “We are only asking to give back what you have taken away,” she said, also offering a warning. “If you choose to turn your back on us, we won’t forget it at election time.”

The Clearwater Neighborhood Coalition, which represents a network of other homeowner groups throughout the city, unanimously passed a resolution supporting reopening the bathrooms in February. Skycrest Neighbors Association unanimously supporting its own in January.

The groups also showed support for reopening the restrooms at City Hall chambers in February.

Leaders from the neighborhood groups have said they plan to host a bevy of events at the park as a way to invite residents back to the public space.

Carl Schrader, president of the Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition asked for a compromise that would allow neighborhood leaders a chance to police the restrooms and have them available for use during special events.

“Certainly there should be some leeway,” Schrader said. “If it doesn’t work then we are out of time.”

The cost to maintain the bathrooms is $35,000 a year, which includes locking, unlocking and daily cleaning. Maintenance costs for Crest Lake Park total about $86,000.

Not everyone who came to City Hall spoke against the plan to destroy them.

T.J. McNicholas, who has lived next to the park for 25 years, said the bathrooms should have never been built.

McNicholas held up a flyer asking the public for clues in the unsolved murder of Jason Paul. Paul was stabbed to death as he rode home through the park in January.

“You’re making a safe haven with that facility for people who have no good intentions at all,” he said.

Doreen Hock-Dipolito, who said her daughter’s first birthday was held in the park, said a renovated space could be the change to bring the park back to life.

“We want to demo these bathroom not to take them away from you, but to put new ones up, to make the park beautiful,” she said. “If we make it beautiful then we will not see people peeing on a tree.”

She said the new park would be an inviting space with possible irrigation, boat races, community events and a memorial to Paul, who was a personal friend, she said.

Under the plan, which still needs funding, the park’s berms could be removed, interactive activities for children would be added, as well as a possible veterans memorial. Other possible amenities, and their costs, including restrooms would be listed for the council to review sometime in the summer.

Financing could come from Penny for Pinellas in 2017, officials have said, however there are other competing projects.

Officials would also develop a stakeholders group and what community and other groups would be involved as part of the park's redevelopment, which could happen this summer.

Mayor George N. Cretekos said a park with people does not have problems.

“Those restrooms as they are currently configured and where they are currently located has not done the community any good," he said. "The first step we need to take is to demolish those restrooms and commit to you that we are going to make that park not only Skycrest, not only East Gateway will be proud of, but the entire City of Clearwater would be proud of.”

Related Coverage:

• Crest Lake Park Bathroom Demolition Vote Set for Thursday
• Crest Lake Park Bathrooms Likely to Be Destroyed
• Crest Lake Park Plans to be Unveiled in March
• Skycrest Neighbors: Open the Bathrooms, Have More Events at Crest Lake Park
• How Can Crest Lake Park Be Improved?
• What Are Your Ideas for Fun at Crest Lake Park?
• Stabbing Sparks Question of Safety at Crest Lake Park
• What Clearwater's Saying: Safety at Crest Lake Park

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