SAFETY HARBOR — As the city wraps up the first phase of development on a 13-acre property it bought four years ago, commissioners are looking forward to what could be next for Waterfront Park.
City Manager Matt Spoor said the completion of the first phase, which included regrading and leveling of the land, realignment of stormwater pipes and a new sidewalk on the park's western side, is the first of many steps toward the city's goal to create a green space.
He says the phases could take years, something commissioners were prepared for in February 2012, when they unanimously agreed to pay $2.75 million for the property, positioned along the shoreline of Old Tampa Bay from the city marina to Mullet Creek and directly behind Safety Harbor Resort and Spa.
Plans and funds are already in place for the next phase, which includes the addition of 16 parking spaces and a boardwalk, but Spoor said the city has not received the required permits from the Army Corps of Engineers. He said the city applied for the permits more than a year ago.
"All we can do is wait," Spoor said. "But as soon as we get the permits, we can start."
The collective cost of the first two phases is expected to be about $1.6 million, according to city records.
Although there are no allocated funds or plans for phases two and three, Mayor Andy Steingold said there is no shortage of ideas.
"Everybody wants to weigh in, but ultimately, plans will come down to a decision by commissioners who hopefully will adopt thoughts that the citizens have," he said. "These next phases will be a combination of different factors."
Steingold said everything is based upon three things: finances, what commissioners want and what citizens want.
"This is different than if we were to buy a parcel of land to put in a ballfield," he said. "We bought a park, a great green space, that has the potential to be many different things."
Commissioner Janet Hooper echoed the property's potential versatility.
"I hope whatever we do, we keep it as open as possible and as multiuse as possible," she said. "I don't want to see the city put a permanent structure there that would preclude other things from happening."
She said, for example, rather than building a permanent performance stage, portable platforms could be brought in for events.
"It's hard to predict what the future looks like and what future uses could include, so we need to make our footprint on the property as small as possible," she said.
Vice Mayor Andy Zodrow said he isn't totally opposed to development but wants to preserve the land's natural beauty.
Steingold and Commissioner Carlos Diaz are more pro-development and say they would like to see a more interactive park that will attract the public.
Diaz hopes for a misting station where runners, cyclists and children can cool off as well as a cafe where people can buy refreshments and rent equipment for water activities.
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Explore all your options"Nothing big, just something so people don't feel stranded on this giant piece of property," he said. "We have to make it an attraction for people to come to."
Steingold hopes for an interactive fountain similar to the one in Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park in Tampa, but some commissioners don't seem to be on board.
"A water feature is a high bacteria thing," Hooper said. "It is expensive to keep that water flowing clean when kids are playing in it day after day."
Commissioner Cliff Merz said the best thing is wait and see how residents react to what has been done.
"Residents need to have an opportunity to settle in and embrace what is there now, then we can take it from there," he said.
But Steingold said he thinks the city is ready to start planning phase two.
"I think the city is quite capable of moving forward," he said. "So I say let's get going."
Contact Megan Reeves at mreeves@tampabay.com or (727) 445-4153. Follow @mreeves_tbt.