pinion When Economic Development and Quality of Life Collide

A new beach management would install groins at Beer Can Island and  drastically alter the shoreline, which is utilized by many boaters.

BRADENTON- Over the last decade, a governmental trend seems to have occurred in many of the county’s most prominent retreats. Rye Bridge, Fort Hamer, and the site of the Palmetto Little League Fields were all heavily utilized recreational locations that were forever altered or demolished to allow for development. Now another popular hangout is at risk, the north end of Longboat Key commonly known as Beer Can Island, which has been a favorite boating destination among locals, will be transformed for the sake of a few Longboat Key condos and a small roadway.

Anyone who has been in the area for a substantial amount of time knows that the shoreline at Longboat Key Pass has changed substantially in the past few years. In 1993, two million cubic meters of sand were removed from the island. Since then, only 55 percent of that sand has been recovered. A new management plan would install a terminal groin and two permeable groins at the north end of the island, pre-filling them with 30,000 cubic yards of truck-hauled sand, which will modify the shoreline drastically and likely bury the beautiful driftwood area that attracts so many visitors to the site.

The strength of the current at Long Boat Key pass has always been an issue for recreational boaters and swimmers. Imagine millions of cubic feet of water ripping around the groins at Beer Can Island. As soon as a liability issue is established near the structures, it is highly likely swimming will not be permitted after the alteration occurs. The commissions should consider the West Coast Inlet Navigation District's sand trap plan, which would likely be much less intrusive and not adversly affect the locations utilized by boaters.

Officials have already made it impossible to reach Beer Can by automobile, it is now only accessible by boat.

It seems that in Manatee County, both developers and prosperous residents receive precedence over middle and lower class residents when it comes to developing public recreational areas. This drastic undertaking, which will exceed over $10 million dollars, is all for the sake of a few condominiums that were built too close to the shoreline in the first place. Folks, this is likely the final step in closing the area to the local boaters who often take their families there on the weekends. The county commission seems to disregard boaters’ input. When Commissioner Joe McClash suggested advertising the change with a large sign, and posting it on the island where boating enthusiasts could see it, the commission voted it down 4-2 with only McClash and Commissioner Michael Gallen in support. 

Officials have already made it impossible to reach Beer Can by automobile. After the access point to the south was washed out and closed, no parking signs were posted to limit access even further. Still, many ambitious people parked blocks away at another beach entrance, then walked to the bridge and swam the narrow channel separating the Longboat Key mainland from the island. Recently, no swimming signs were posted to further limit people from accessing the island. 

This isn’t the first time recreational areas have been sacrificed for the sake of economic development. In 2007, the old Rye Bridge was replaced with a new bridge. While this was a beneficial addition to the community, the new bridge allowed automobiles to travel at greater velocities and altered the passage so it was more like a highway than a road.  The construction closed off two popular picnic areas and no parking signs were posted on highway shoulders. Today the picnic areas serve as a spillway for a heightened river level, but with just a few inexpensive altercations, such as cement picnic tables and traffic calming amenities, east county residents could have kept their favorite swimming spot. Today people still swim in the area, but they are forced to park across the street in a dirt lot and walk across the bridge amongst traffic traveling at speeds exceeding 50 mph.

The construction of the new Rye Bridge closed off two popular picnic areas.

Officials justified the renovation by creating Rye Preserve, a beautiful park located near the bridge where people can go to camp, canoe, ride horses or hike. Trails meander around the park sometimes taking residents past a pristine view of the upper Manatee River. However, while many citizens may use the park, it’s not as family-friendly as the previous setting. Instead of driving down to a small boat ramp and plopping a kayak in the water, it now has to be carried down a trail; the boat ramp is inaccessible. While a picnic area exists, it’s not on the water or shaded. In the hot Florida sun, those are two factors that are necessities. A mother toting three toddlers and a cooler is not likely to come here anymore. It’s too hard to get to the river and when one does reach the dark brown waters, they are less likely to swim. 

Prior to the new bridge addition, there was always a crowd. No one ever really had to worry about alligators because they were scared away by the amount of people splashing and swimming about. Today, traveling down a trail to a deserted embankment makes the murky waters much less appealing to swimmers– for it’s hard to determine what lurks within. 

Today the picnic areas serve as a spillway for a heightened river level, but with just a few inexpensive altercations, such as cement picnic tables and traffic calming amenities, east county residents could have kept their favorite swimming spot.

At least you are still allowed to swim at Rye Preserve. At Fort Hamer Park, swimming is now prohibited. Families used to come from all over the county to picnic at Ft. Hamer, but now the majority of the grounds were forfeited to accommodate a rowing facility that opened in January of last year. The $825,000 training facility was prepared for competitive rowers, and funded in part by a state grant, but the consideration for boating enthusiasts that frequented the park was again overlooked by county officials. While the rowing facility attracts people from all over, it is utilized by a relatively small margin of upper-class individuals, whereas the old picnic area appealed to families at every end of the socio-economic spectrum. 

The wide river spans at Fort Hamer provided a perfect place for waterskiing, particularly in the form of a figure eight. For almost a century, families with small boats launched at the Fort Hamer boat ramp and sped and skied up and down the river – that is until the rowing facility was constructed in 2011. Now, anywhere west of the boat ramp is a no wake zone in order to accommodate the rowers. 

The North River American Little League fields were displaced to accommodate the new Palmetto Elementary School after a mold scare at the old Palmetto Elementary prompted school officials to build a new school. The land acquisition deal was rushed and not thought-out properly. While no one argues the necessity of a new Palmetto School, the NRALL never got their fields. Today the league is in jeopardy.  

The City of Palmetto looked at several different locations as possible sites for the fields, but limited space prevented them from finding a viable option. Had the city gone with its original plan to construct a clover-shaped complex with four fields at Blackstone Park, it would have required the relocation of 23rd Street.

Since the rowing facility opened at Ft. Hamer, locals can no longer waterski or even swim at the park.

Instead of moving the road, the city came up with new plans that will squeeze three fields onto the property adjacent of Blackstone Park. While the county did eventually vote to take over the construction project, several county commissioners including Carol Whitmore and John Chappie were reluctant to take over the endeavor because of a budget shortfall of over $700,000. The City of Palmetto set aside $850,000 from the beginning if the project was to be used specifically for the fields, but the total amount is estimated to cost between $1.5 and $2 million. When Palmetto Mayor Shirley Groover Bryant presented the $850,000 check to the commission in February of 2012, they refused it. 

Now the North River Little League has been without fields for three years and no visible progress has been made since the county took over the project. Apparently, even the little league’s recreational needs have been overlooked for the sake of economic development. While Palmetto children have a new school, the little league has dwindled to nearly a third of its original size. 

Economic development is about more than increasing jobs and income. Ultimately, it is about improving the standard and quality of life. If members of the Manatee County Commission want to help the quality of life in Manatee, they should take a good look at how their decisions are adversely affecting the way residents live and stand up for more than island townhouses that might sully the view from the million dollar beachfront homes. When you take away the amenities that make living in Manatee County appealing, then what is keeping the people here? One thing is for certain -- it isn’t the job market.