Tequesta Notes
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Saturday, July 17, 2021
The Tequesta Park
Proposed Design
Mayor Frank D'Ambra presented a design for Tequesta Park at a Council workshop Thursday evening and the village posted the idea to social media Friday. For the reasons set out below, we strongly oppose this design and the rushed process under which it is being pursued. Please consider the following points and email the Council to let them know that you do not support the proposed design. (Council contact info below.)
At the workshop Thursday, Mayor Frank D'Ambra recycled a design for Tequesta Park that was rejected in 2020 because of cost. The Mayor's plan here is to ask the state of Florida to cover the building cost which is apt to range between $4,000,000 and $8,000,000. Village taxpayers would be responsible for on-going maintenance and other costs such as insurance. These on-going annual costs will be substantial.
Maintenance and Insurance Costs
Do not underestimate the on-going costs that this proposal would saddle the village with. At the Council workshop, Public Works explained that the village currently pays $133,000 per year to maintain what is basically nothing in comparison to the proposed design. We should therefore expect that the annual maintenance costs for the proposal will be multiples of that. Perhaps even pushing a million dollars a year. And then what if you need another person or staff running the facility?
In addition to the maintenance costs, what about annual insurance costs? This item was not broached at the workshop meeting but how much would it cost to insure this facility? Tequesta Park was in fact seriously damaged previously in a hurricane. In the event of a catastrophic loss, the village would be on the hook.
Pesticides, Fertilizers, and Drinking Water
Also, do not underestimate the massive amounts of pesticides, chemicals, and fertilizers that the village would have to use in fields maintenance and which will make their way into drinking and river water.
As we understand it, Tequesta draws drinking water from wells on Tequesta Park. Under the proposed design, the village would therefore be dousing massive amounts of poison all the time on the land right above where we draw our drinking water from. In our view this is really not a smart thing to do.
Alternatives?
The Mayor is rushing this plan under the pretext of a suddenly discovered state deadline and has offered no alternative options. We oppose this rushed process for a village asset with long term strategic impact and consequences. The concept phase is arguably the most important phase in developing the right project for this space. We reject the false urgency and the rush, and we hope you will also. Let the Council know.
There are many other interesting options. For example, in 2009 the village commissioned a Master Plan for Tequesta Park (after hurricane damage) and the design there is better than the proposed design because it is more inclusive of broader community interests and it is more sensitive to important environmental prerogatives.
2009 Master Plan for Tequesta Park.
There are other options too. We are certain that the village could achieve an alternative that provides for broad community and business interests while also benefiting vital environmental interests, not harming the community in any way, and not incurring the same massive maintenance costs.
For example, we could reach out to a conservation non-profit and let them develop the space.
Jupiter Farms in fact just did this. The municipality there nixed a sports concept proposal to build soccer fields on 19 acres and instead Busch Wildlife Sanctuary will be moving in.
"Busch Wildlife Sanctuary is planning a move to a new location on Rocky Pines Road and West Indiantown Road in Jupiter Farms. ... A plan to build a soccer complex at the same Jupiter Farms proposed site was voted down last year, so Wildlife Sanctuary staff then pitched their plan of what they think will be a great fit." WPTV report 15 July 2021 .
Notice that an alternative like this could cost the municipality $0 to build and $0 to maintain, and it also might generate a profit, and it would be a year-round attraction supporting local business, it would appeal to the entire community, it would cause none of the ecological harms that flow from athletic complex maintenance, it would actually benefit the environmental interests and hence the health of the community. There are all kinds of great possibilities in this vein.
Tell the Council not to rush into the proposed design! This is a strategic planning decision with significant long term financial, health, and environmental effects and impact.
Regarding local economy boost from athletic facilities: Any beautiful space on the 41 acres at Tequesta Park could be a continuous attraction for the village and that would be much better for local business and property values on an on-going basis than the transient flow of the tournament model connected with athletic facilities.
Note also that there has been no meaningful opportunity for community input at the crucial concept phase of thinking about Tequesta Park unlike for the rec center. And this is 41 acres in contrast to less than 4 acres.
You can email the Council at these addresses below. Please tell them that you oppose the proposed design and you oppose the rushed process.
→ Email Council Member Kyle Stone. Ask him to oppose the rushed proposal. kstone@tequesta.org.
→ Please also email Council Members Laurie Brandon lbrandon@tequesta.org and Molly Young myoung@tequesta.org.
→ Email Mayor Frank D’Ambra fdambra@tequesta.org and Council Member Bruce Prince bprince@tequesta.org and express your opposition to the rushed plan.
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