Contact:  Cynthia Gray / x6002

Presenter:  Cindy Turner / Director / x6001

                 Tom Yarger / Construction Services Project Manager / x3003

FL Statute 125.01 (1) (f.)

In August 2009, the City of Palmetto sold a parcel of land to the School Board for the construction of the new Palmetto Elementary School.  During the construction of the school, the ball fields used by the North River American Little League were eliminated. The City of Palmetto has previously committed to provide $800,000 of the $1.2 million proceeds from the sale of the property to use towards the construction of new ball fields. This funding will be critical to allow staff to move forward with this project. 

The County has worked closely with the City of Palmetto, the School Board, and the League to identify an appropriate site to construct new ball fields.

On January 10, 2012, the Board directed the County Administrator to investigate the best way to build new little league fields to accommodate the North River American Little League. Commissioners hoped that with the County in the lead, the facility could be designed quickly and built in phases, perhaps while the rest of the needed money was raised from other sources.

The County has been working diligently and recently received cost estimates and timetables for the following two options:

Option A

Build  three new regulation little league fields, a parking lot, a press box and concession building, bleachers, sidewalks, lighting and associated infrastructure at Blackstone Field, east and north of the Blackstone Park softball fields.

According to the conceptual plans, the new fields will cost an estimated $3.3 million and will take approximately 22 months to construct.  Both the cost and construction timetable are subject to professional design and permitting.

Under the Blackstone plan, the county will mitigate the effects of the existing soil at the Blackstone fields by removing a top layer of soil and taking it to the Lena Road landfill in exchange for clean fill that will serve as a thick buffer between the old farming dirt and the new fields.  This eliminates direct exposure from the chemicals on the old farming operation to visitors of the new park. 

The Blackstone plan has the backing of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection which has worked closely the Natural Resources Department to ensure the county carries out a plan that is safe for children's recreational use.

Option B

Build two new adult softball fields at Bennett Park and convert the softball fields at Blackstone into two little league fields.  This option is slightly more costly than the Blackstone plan, provides one less field for the Little League and its 25 month construction schedule puts at risk the Little League's fall season.

Recommendation

Staff recommends moving forward with Option A, building three little league fields at Blackstone Park and supporting infrastructure as shown on the Blackstone Park Expansion Preliminary Concept Plan prepared by WilsonMiller Stantec.  Option A costs slightly less, provides one more field for the Little League and will take less time to construct on a single construction site. 

The North River American Little League and the City of Palmetto support Option A as well. 

It is envisioned that this will be a complex that will well serve the needs of the community.

The funding will come from the City of Palmetto, Manatee County Park Impact Fees, and funding from community partnerships to assist with much needed funding as delineated in the attached matrix. Future Park Impact Fees will be used through an interfund bridge loan. 

Start up costs:  $22,831
Annual Operating cost: $98,670