BY DAN HILDEBRAN
Lawtey City Council members discussed several ways to improve the municipality’s Middleburg Park during the council’s December 2 meeting.
Council member Debra Jordan Norman reported to her colleagues that the city’s recreation board held a town hall meeting at the park, inviting citizens to suggest upgrades. She added that two recreation board members showed up for the workshop in addition to a member of the public.
Suggestions for improvements included a walking track around the perimeter of the parcel, upgrading the tennis courts and adding lines to make the surface playable for pickleball in addition to tennis, and renovating the park’s building for arts and crafts, watching movies, and other purposes.
Council Member Emily Hoffman reminded her colleagues that County Commissioner Carolyn Spooner said grants were available to improve the park. She asked what the status of the grants was.
Citizen John Mercier responded that according to property appraiser records, there is no building on the site, even though a structure is on the parcel. He added that the lack of building records could hurt the city’s chances of obtaining a grant for park improvements.
Lawtey Police Department Maj. Nathan Blom added that a county architect and engineer visited the park, and the architect estimated that improving the site would cost $1 million. The architect also said the facility’s parking lot was below street grade, making the area susceptible to flooding and adding to the rehabilitation cost. The police officer added that bringing the park up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards and installing heating and air conditioning could drive the cost above $2 million.
Norman told the council that representatives of a Bradford County youth football league had asked if the league could use the park for practices and games.
The council member added that the league was looking at increased rental fees from the school district for using the high school football field and was looking for more economical alternatives.
Norman said that one obstacle to the arrangement might be the league’s need for lighting, which Middleburg Park lacks.
Students lobby for smoke-free parks
Elena Smith and August Lefevers of Students Working Against Tobacco spoke to the council about prohibiting smoking in parks.
“Every person in Bradford County should be free to enjoy the great outdoors without exposure to toxic smoke vapor,” said Smith. “Smoking is already prohibited in state parks, and now, thanks to new legislation, counties and municipalities can prohibit smoking and vaping in their local parks.”
The student added that 55.9% of youth in Bradford County report being exposed to second-hand smoke.
Lefevers said Bradford County and the City of Starke are now banning smoking in their parks. She added that signs are not enough to discourage smoking in the recreational areas frequented by children and families.
She added that 30.5% of Bradford County youth say they have tried cigarettes, vaping products, smokeless cigars, or methamphetamine.
“Sixteen-point four percent reported that they’re currently using one of these products, she added. “Both are above the state average.”
