Local parks to benefit from BP oil spill windfall

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

Two existing parks in Key West and three new “pocket parks” may be the beneficiaries of the $2.1 million the city has received as its part of the BP oil spill settlement.

Assistant City Manager Greg Veliz presented a proposed plan to city commissioners on April 5 that outlined how the windfall could be spent to benefit the city’s children, as commissioners directed in December. The bulk of the money in the proposal would go towards renovating Cozumel Park, off of 19th Street, and turning the existing storage shed in Bayview Park into a permanent home for the Southernmost Boys & Girls Club.

Velez said the Bayview shed renovation would cost $500,000, with the city community services department donating labor for demolition and removal of some interior walls. The shed is current used to store city park maintenance equipment and as a concession stand.

The renovation of Cozumel Park will cost $550,000 and will include installation of a small “splash pad” water feature, a half-court for basketball, artificial turf and a small pavilion that can be used for neighborhood parties.

“We had such a strong success with the Nelson English/Willie Ward Park and the way it was designed. We felt we could replicate that in another part of the city,” Veliz said about the Cozumel Park renovation.

Three small new parks were also proposed. One would be a boardwalk extending out into the water and circling the mangroves at the end of 10th Street. A ramp to launch small boats would also be built. Total cost would be $250,000, Veliz said.

A more ambitious pocket park would be built at the south end of Duval Street, taking over the public parking lot next to The Southernmost House. Seating, decorative paving and other amenities could be installed to link visitors to the ocean at that point. The cost would be $300,000.

The last pocket park would be built at the north end of Simonton Street, where a small beach currently exists. Veliz said the beach would be expanded and seating would be installed to make it a nice space for visitors at a cost of $300,000.

“The idea is to create civic spaces for the residents,” said City Planner Thaddeus Cohen. “To be able to create an open vista that overlooks the water.”

City commissioners gave the go-ahead to begin work on the Bayview Park shed and Cozumel Park renovations immediately. More discussion will come in the future on the pocket parks.

“I’m glad to see Cozumel [Park] in there. It’s been neglected for a long time,” said Commissioner Billy Wardlow.

“Generations of kids to come can enjoy these things. We’re getting a lot for our money,” said Commissioner Sam Kaufman.

Key West’s portion of the 2010 BP disaster settlement was $2.7 million. Lawyers’ fees reduced the city’s payout by $600,000, leaving a one-time windfall in the city coffers, not to mention the attorneys’.

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