Sandcastle Playground Out, Other Pier 60 Renovations In

A pricey playground is not part of renovation plans for Pier 60 Park.

But a military flag plaza, repairs and a new entry sign still will be part of the project at the park after city leaders unanimously approved the $500,000 plan Thursday.

The more than $300,000, concrete sandcastle playground structure was removed from the project after city leaders heard opposition from resident and business groups.

The Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition, Clearwater Beach Association, Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Beach Chamber all were opposed to the plan. The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board also was against it.

A handful of residents wearing homemade paper buttons with the words “Beach Friends Library, Pool, Rec Center” written on them hoped to sway leaders to expand the hours at the beach library and open the pool at the beach recreation center year round.

Wendy Hutkin, president of the Clearwater Beach Association, was relieved the park project did not include the pricey playground structure.

"There was a lot of concern with the spending of that project," Hutkin said. "Moving forward I would hope that in future budgets you really take into consideration the need and interests in extending our library and recreation center hours as well as the pool."

However, reallocating the money does not mean a one-time capital expense would subsidize yearly operating costs, said Mayor George N. Cretekos.

“It’s not as easy as taking money from here and spending it there,” Cretekos said. “Because we won’t be able to do that year round, year after year.”

The military flag plaza is $100,000 of the project cost.

The other parts of the project including an entry sign, repairing parts of the existing seating wall and walkways, fixing the irrigation system and improving the special event layout to mesh the park more closely with the look of Beach Walk.

Related coverage:

• Sandcastle Plan Put on Hold
• Sandcastle Playground Cost A Concern to Residents
• Pier 60 Park Playground: Are You in Favor?
• Is Pricey Playground for Pier 60 Park Needed?
• Letter to the Editor: Pricey Playground Planned for Pier 60 Park
• Clearwater Beach Association to Hear More on Sandcastle Playground Plan
• Pricey Playground Eyed for Clearwater Beach

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