Manatee County to Host Warner

MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County will host an informal public meeting at Warner’s Bayou boat ramp on May 6 at 6 p.m. to explain a parking lot upgrade that will close the ramp for about a month this fall or winter.

The popular boat ramp and picnic area at 5900 Riverview Blvd. were closed for six months in 2013 for long-needed repairs. The boat ramp, floating dock and fixed docks were replaced and upgraded. When planning the improvements in 2012, project managers were sensitive to residents’ concerns over a paved lot and designed only two ADA-accessible paved spots and stormwater improvements.

Charlie Hunsicker, director of the Parks and Natural Resources Department, says the shell parking lot installed last year is very difficult to maintain and does not sufficiently address stormwater runoff.  County staff proposes to solve these problems by surfacing the parking lot with an attractive broadcast shell concrete.

Hunsicker said the new surface will end the need for expensive grading and it will ensure that stormwater controls function properly to protect the water quality of Warner’s Bayou and the Manatee River.

“The compacted shell parking surface is constantly subjected to the formation of ruts, pits and potholes resulting from normal traffic, rain events and vandalism,” Hunsicker said. “The ruts and potholes can be quite severe, and they interfere with boaters’ utilization of the ramp and can cause damage to vehicles or trailers.”

The 2013 project was funded entirely through Manatee County's Boating Improvement Fund and the West Coast Inland Navigation District. The parking lot paving project will also be covered entirely by WCIND and the boater fund.

For more information on Manatee County boat ramps online. For more information on Manatee County’s Parks and Natural Preserves, visit online and follow them on Facebook.