Crest Lake Park Plans to be Unveiled in March

Supporters wearing green ribbons with the letters S-O-B (Save our Bathrooms) packed City Hall on Thursday in hopes of getting the restrooms at Crest Lake Park unwelded.

Residents, members of the Skycrest Neighbors Association, including president JoAnna Siskin, and Carl Schrader, president of the Clearwater Neighborhoods Coalition, came out to challenge city leaders to reopen the bathroom doors at Crest Lake Park by March 7.

Before reading, Schrader asked people seated in the chambers to stand if they were there in support of reopening the bathrooms at Crest Lake Park.

More than half the room, about 35 people, stood as Schrader read from the resolution.

The neighborhood coalition, which represents a network of other homeowner groups throughout the city, unanimously passed a resolution supporting reopening the bathrooms in February, Schrader said. That is on the heels of the Skycrest Neighbors Association unanimously supporting its own in January.

“The representatives (of the Skycrest Neighbors Association) spoke about the timeline of this closure and the burden it now places on visitors to the park. They said visitors to the park were area residents as well as out of area visitors and included young children through senior adults. They asked for the support of the coalition to get the restroom facilities reopened.

The public should be able to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of this park without the fear of knowing or suddenly learning that its restrooms have been welded shut.  We are aware of the constraints and limitations that the City of Clearwater is under but surely there is some room for compromise that will fit the city’s constraints and the needs of the public.”

Mayor George N. Cretekos thanked Schrader and let him know that the council is going to talk more about plans for Crest Lake Park and the seven bathrooms at a meeting in March.

The room erupted in applause as Cretekos rapped a gavel.

“We’ll be back in March then,” Schrader said after the meeting, adding that early indications are that the council could move to unweld the doors.

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The bathroom's closure is part of the city’s efforts to usher homeless into social services. They were closed June 11, 2012.

They were closed for cost reasons as well.

“The lights are on in the bathroom," said Nancy Frisco, a nearby resident. "Everyone's all concerned about the money but the lights are on in the bathroom but the doors are locked.”

Neighbors said they would be back to find out about the plans for the park.

Siskin, who issued the green ribbons, also handed out flyers to a candlelight vigil in honor of stabbing victim Jason Paul, which is Saturday at the park.

Luminaries will light the walkway around the part of the park. Family, friends and neighbors will be there in support. A bagpiper will play.

Still, none of the bathrooms will be open.

Related Coverage:

• Skycrest Neighbors: Open the Bathrooms, Have More Events at Crest Lake Park
• How Can Crest Lake Park Be Improved?
• What Are Your Ideas for Fun at Crest Lake Park?
• Stabbing Sparks Question of Safety at Crest Lake Park
• What Clearwater's Saying: Safety at Crest Lake Park