Tarpon sends county letter opposing Fred Howard parking fee
TARPON SPRINGS - City commissioners voted unanimously to send county officials a letter reiterating their fierce opposition to imposing a $5 fee to park at Fred Howard Park beach.
Commissioner Chris Alahouzos' suggestion that the city ask the county to give Howard Park to Tarpon Springs received a lukewarm reception from his colleagues, largely based on the cost involved in maintaining the park.
Some residents, however, think having Howard Park in city hands is a good idea that could become a beachfront gold mine.
Pinellas officials say a $5 parking fee is needed at the beach at Howard Park and at Fort DeSoto Park, at the county's southern tip, to offset the cost of operating the county park system. County Commission Chairwoman Susan Latvala has said that without a fee all county parks would have to close two days a week.
Alahouzos said the county should not fund its park system by charging local residents to use their park. He said the city should ask the county to give Fred Howard Park back to Tarpon Springs. The city gave the county the land for the park in the 1960s.
In response, Latvala jumped at the idea of giving Howard Park to Tarpon Springs and suggested the county would be happy to throw A.L. Anderson Park, on U.S. 19, into the bargain.
A "skeptical" Mayor David Archie said the city must be cautious before it asks for Fred Howard Park. "We have to ask ourselves: 'Why do they want to give us this park?'"
The city would have to do an analysis on how much it would actually cost to maintain and operate Howard Park, he said, adding, "Where would we get the funding to operate the park?"
So far, few city residents have told county officials they are opposed to a Howard Park parking fee.
Commissioner Susan Slattery said the city does not have sufficient Parks and Recreation Department personnel to maintain Fred Howard Park. Commissioner Jeff Lawson said adding the cost of maintaining the park to the city's budget during hard economic times would be impractical.
City Manager Mark LeCouris said taking control of Howard Park and Anderson Parks as a package deal would be costly.
While city officials were not eager to assume the cost of operating Howard Park, some residents said owning the gulf-front property could be a winning proposition for the city.
Chris Hrabovsky, a local environmentalist, said Howard Park and its beach could be "a gold mine" for the city. Concessions, a small restaurant and boat launches could be a source of revenue to pay for park upkeep and maintenance, he suggested.
Fred Howard Park - News
TARPON SPRINGS - City commissioners voted unanimously to send county officials a letter reiterating their fierce opposition to imposing a $5 fee to park at Fred Howard Park beach. Commissioner Chris Alahouzos'
Tarpon Springs, Florida -- City Commissioners in Tarpon Springs may be out of ammunition in their fight to stop a proposed parking fee at Fred Howard Park. Pinellas County Administrator Bob LaSala suggested the $5 parking fee for beach parking at Fred
The county already wants to begin charging $5 fees at Fort De Soto Park in Tierra Verde and Fred Howard Park in Tarpon Springs, both beachfront attractions. Sewer rates are set to rise. "We are looking under every leaf, every stone — and that has gone
The company also contracts with Pinellas County to provide services at Fred Howard Park, Lake Seminole Park, Sand Key Park and Madeira Beach. Between the public parks and Bon Appetit, the company serves as a venue for several hundred weddings a year,
The $1.6 billion budget included few surprises as park fees for Fort Desoto and Fred Howard Park were vetted in previous meetings. The biggest disappointment most likely was the news that there was no money in the budget for social action funding.
Fort De Soto, Fred Howard parks will soon have $5 fees | wtsp.com
PINELLAS COUNTY, Florida - With complaints mounting as fast as new budget deficits, Pinellas commissioners have decided to institute $5 fees per vehicle entering two popular beach parks , beginning this fall.
Fort De Soto and Fred Howard Park are the county's only two parks with gulf access, but a looming $4.8 million deficit next year prompted a majority of commissioners to approve the fee. Each year, 2.8 million visitors head to Fort De Soto; 1.6 million visit Howard Park.
"We can just no longer afford to have those parks totally free," said Commissioner Ken Welch. "You can either cut more, raise property taxes, or charge a small fee...and we think the small fee is the best approach at this point."
You can either cut more, raise property taxes, or charge a small fee...and we think the small fee is the best approach at this point."But Nancy Bostock and Norm Roche voted against the idea, claiming the fees were a slippery slope.
"From my perspective, once we do that, this concept could expand very quickly," Roche said. "These fees will never go away and they will only go up."
Roche suggested looking toward the county's tourist tax once Tropicana Field was paid off in 2015 ; using prisoners to help clean the beaches; or re-allocating money in the budget from other funds that aren't mandated by the county charter, as parks are.
Pedestrians and cyclists would still be allowed to enter the park for free, while seniors and low-income residents could get discounts. Season passes would be available for $75.
The Pinellas Co. Board of County Commissioners is likely to approve the fees officially this summer and they would likely take effect on October 1.
I love this island! Fred Howard Park for the day 
Join us this Thursday for a Ribbon cutting for WHEEL FUN RENTALS out at Fred Howard Park! De... (via @)
RT @: Join us this Thursday for a Ribbon cutting for WHEEL FUN RENTALS out at Fred Howard Park! Details on our Events... 
Join us this Thursday for a Ribbon cutting for WHEEL FUN RENTALS out at Fred Howard Park! Details on our Events... 
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