SEMINOLE — The city’s new recreation master plan, featuring the proposed new construction of a rec center, was well-received at a City Council meeting on March 12.
“It’s exciting,” said Mayor Leslie Waters, who called it the biggest project the city has undertaken in her 13 years on Council.
Consultants retained by the city spent nearly an hour covering various aspects of the plan, which City Manager Ann Toney-Deal called “the culmination of many months of work and community input.”
Representatives of the firm presenting the, GAI Consultants of Tampa, assessed the current recreation center and also visited all of the city’s parks in the process of completing an analysis of all existing facilities. This was in addition to public workshops, during which public input was solicited about what people are looking for in their parks and rec center.
The consultants also researched population growth in the area, as well as demographic shifts and the latest trends in recreation programming.
Parks and recreation amenities are near the top of the list for anyone considering a move to a new community, officials noted. More than 300 people took an online survey, with the majority indicating they are pleased with current operations, they said.
The new plan highlights certain “guiding principles” that include providing access, community building, making sure the community is aware of what is available, arts and culture focus, and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Objectives considered in those categories include healthy living habits, recreation amenities, access and awareness of the Pinellas Trail, the demand for indoor athletics, socializing opportunities for seniors and others, homeschool and youth program development, and nature-based recreation opportunities.
Specific recommendations were made for every park, varying from restroom upgrades to lighting expansion. As for the recreation center, new construction was proposed rather than renovation of the existing facility to minimize any interruption of services. Other advantages include greater building efficiency and fewer maintenance needs in the long term, the consultants said.
With no design yet in place for a new Seminole facility, the consultants showed case studies of projects in other municipalities to highlight the strengths of their overall proposal.
Most of the current recreation complex was originally a church, Waters noted, and the city has taken a “Band-aid” approach for many years to keep it up to date.
“We have milked that building to the end,” she said. “Hallelujah, we are at the end.”
