SEBASTIAN — The oft-relocated pavilion originally planned for Riverview Park along the water’s edge could now be moving to Schumann Park, if the Sebastian City Council approves it.
The Sebastian Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee decided Monday that Schumann Park would be a good substitute location to Riverview Park, which faced heavy opposition from some in the community and on the council.
“We just need to find a spot we’re happy with,” City Manager Al Minner told the committee at the start of the nearly hour-long discussion.
The Sebastian City Council is expected to review the committee’s recommendation Wednesday evening during its regular meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m.
The committee considered several options as presented by Minner, but ultimately came up with two acceptable locations – Schumann Park and Creative Playground, located near the Barber Street Sports Complex.
The complex, the municipal golf course and couple small neighborhood parks were also considered.
“I’m kind of pulled between Schumann and Barber Street,” Committee Chair Joann White said, referring to the Creative Playground, adding that either park would be fine.
Schumann Park won out over Creative Playground due to the different groups of people who would be able to make use of the pavilion at Schumann.
“They need the shade,” member John Tenerowicz said of the people who play tennis at Schumann.
“I think it would make the park look great,” fellow member Scott Simpson said, reminding the committee of the improvements either recently completed or currently underway.
The tennis courts have been redone, as have the basketball courts. The restroom facility is expected to be replaced within three to six months of the city receiving a needed permit and a playground is being relocated.
The pavilion, Simpson said, would help take the park to the next level.
The committee summarily dismissed the Sebastian Municipal Golf Course for the pavilion, citing concerns about using Recreation Impact Fees to pay for a pavilion at the golf course, which isn’t funded through such fees.
Minner told the committee that they need not be too concerned about the issue because the golf course could, over time, pay back the $26,000 to the Recreation Impact Fee fund.
The committee also decided not to pursue relocating the pavilion to either Easy Street or George Street parks over concerns of how the residents would feel about having the pavilion and the limited benefit the pavilion would have.
Tenerowicz and Simpson both voiced some support for George Street Park, but they did not place it as their No. 1 choice.
The other two options the committee considered were placing the pavilion at the Barber Street Sports Complex – at the football field between the Skate Park and the concession stand and at the baseball diamonds near its concession stand.
Committee members agreed that shade needs to be added to the areas, but questioned the effectiveness of the pavilion. Instead, they agreed to look into purchasing shade canopies for the bleachers and other such structures.
