What Clearwater's Saying: Demolishing Bathrooms at Crest Lake Park

Neighborhood leaders asked for the bathrooms to be reopened at Crest Lake Park. 

City leaders responded with talk of pursuing a program to finance future upgrades for the park and destroying the bathrooms, something they will talk more about at an April 4 meeting.

Bathrooms at the park have been closed since June 11, 2012 as part of the city’s efforts to usher homeless into social services and to deter crime at the park, officials have said.

Clearwater Patch readers shared their thoughts about plans to destroy the bathrooms at Crest Lake Park, including support for redeveloping the public space and the need for restrooms there:

"It makes me sad that it has come to this. Crest lake is a beautiful, natural park that has been the center of Clearwater for many decades," Stacey Skinner said on Facebook. "As a resident for 25 years I have watched it go from a thriving park with craft shows, car shows, parades to a now a ghost park with a few visitors. If it weren't for the dog park it would be empty. I hope the city council decides to give it some attention sooner than they are talking about. If they want it to thrive like Largo Central Park a bathroom is a must. To expect visitors, children& seniors especially, a bathroom is critical. There are ways to stop crime without punishing the law abiding citizens."

diane hamilton commented on Clearwater Patch: "These bathrooms need to be open or vagrants will pee on the ground etc. It is wrong to deny access to the children who are playing nearby. Get real."

Kelly Shannon Kelly: "Try telling your little one at the playground that there is nowhere they can go to the bathroom. BRILLIANT move, Clearwater."

Related Coverage:

• 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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