Truman Waterfront Park finally breaks ground

BY PRU SOWERS

KONK LIFE STAFF WRITER

“I can’t believe we’re finally here. It’s like Christmas!”

Those words were spoken by former Key West City Commissioner Tony Yaniz at the Dec. 16 groundbreaking ceremony for the long-awaited Truman Waterfront Park. But practically everyone who attended the morning ceremony was thinking the same thing.

“Halleluiah! What a glorious day this is,” said Commissioner Jimmy Weekley, drawing a laugh from the audience.

“I remember the first time hearing about Truman Waterfront Park when I was in grade school,” said Commissioner Sam Kaufman. “Just kidding.”

Kaufman was only slightly exaggerating. Doug Bradshaw, currently the Key West Director of Port and Marina Services, was first hired by the city 15 years ago to be the local redevelopment authority staffer in charge of sheparding the waterfront park into existence. With the project stalled so often over the last decade and a half, Bradshaw transitioned into other duties for Key West while keeping an eye on park plans.

“Pretty damn good,” he said on Wednesday, when asked how he felt about the groundbreaking ceremony.

The entire city commission, Mayor Craig Cates and a host of city employees who have worked on the project were in attendance. So was a representative of the U.S. Navy since it was the entity that gave the land to Key West for what will be a 32-acre park containing – if adequate funding can be found – a community center, multi-purpose recreation field, 500-person amphitheater, a restroom, and children’s play area with a water feature.

“It’s amazing the time that has been put in to make this day possible. Thank you for not giving up,” said Cates. “This project will be an amazing asset to locals and visitors alike.”

The ground breaking was largely ceremonial. Actual work on Phase 1 of the project began a few weeks ago, with contractors beginning equipment staging and land surveys. The first phase of the project should be completed in 2.5 years and is expected to cost close to $19 million. Currently the city has approximately $16.5 million set aside for Phase 1 and will contribute another $2.5 million each year going forward. The cost of the entire park is estimated at $58.5 million and will need significant grant and other funding sources to complete.

But that was a worry for another day on Dec. 16. Everybody in Key West “should be proud” of the new park, said Commissioner Billy Wardlow. Weekley called it a “jewel in the crown of Key West.”

And commissioners Richard Payne and Clayton Lopez took the opportunity to push for additional uses for the park property. Payne pointed to the abandoned Navy Building 103, saying it would be perfect for a U.S. Customs office connected with ferry service to Cuba. The Inner Mole could accommodate large ocean-going ferries traveling between Cuba and Key West, he said, plus there is plenty of public parking in the area for passengers.

“We want to look ahead to the future as well as look at today,” Payne said.

Lopez also called for city officials to push for local ferry service operations to and from the recently-opened island of Cuba. Not only would it attract visitors to Key West, it would be a source of new year-round jobs for residents.

“It is going to happen. There is so much I want to look forward to in the future,” Lopez told the crowd.

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