SEBASTIAN — The Sebastian Recreation Advisory Committee is considering improvements to various parks and recreation facilities around the city, including the Community Center and Skate Park.
The group met Monday evening to discuss each member’s request for projects.
Capital projects are funded by dedicated impact fees collected as new development is built in the city, and can be used for furthering development at parks and recreation facilities including adding new equipment, building new infrastructure, or making new improvements.
On Monday, each member of the advisory committee submitted their individual suggestions on improvements they would like to see funded by the impact fees.
Of the list of items discussed at the meeting the need for improvements at the Community Center fell at the top of the list.
Chris McCarthy, the parks and recreation superintendent, said the process to paint the inside and outside of the building is already underway and will not rely on impact fees.
McCarthy said he will be meeting with the Sebastian River Art Club on Tuesday to discuss painting murals on the inside of the building.
“Something needs to be done about the Community Center,” said Chairman John Tenerowicz. “Someone is going to come in and give us an idea of if it can be expanded.”
In addition to improvements at the Community Center, the committee agreed that the outdoor skate facility located at 1121 Barber Street is in need of an update.
Tenerowicz asked McCarthy if he had been approached about removing the Skate Park to replace it with a water park.
McCarthy replied that he had not, and recommended that the park remain intact as a skate facility.
“It does get used and it is a great place for teens,” McCarthy said. He added that Sebastian was in short supply of areas where teens who are not involved in organized sports could gather.
Tenerowicz said he agreed with McCarthy’s statement and reiterated his question was on behalf of a single community member who had approached him on the matter.
Tenerowicz said all of the ramps at the skate park would need to be rebuilt with wood, and a large portion of the park would need to be renovated.
“I’m going to fight to the death for the skate park because that place isn’t going to make it another year,” McCarthy said.
Other improvements suggested at the meeting included the purchase of new picnic tables, a variety of projects to update the ball parks, and fresh paint for various restroom facilities.
Committee member Rosemary Flescher suggested relaying the information about smaller projects including some necessary improvements to Garden Club Park to area Boy Scouts who may be looking for projects.
McCarthy will present the committee’s suggestions to the City Manager and return to the advisory committee with the appropriate budget information at the committee’s next meeting in June. The committee will then vote on which projects should take precedence and draft a formal proposal for the city’s approval.
