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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1986 |
| Howard Park Bridges & Causeway Reconstructive Restoration |
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| Requester: |
Elithia Stanfield |
Organization: |
Culture, Education & Leisure, Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners |
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| Project Title: |
Howard Park Bridges & Causeway Reconstructive Restoration |
Date Submitted |
1/4/2008 9:33:12 AM |
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| Sponsors: |
Fasano |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| The bridge replacements will keep open the tidal circulation in the waters of St. Joseph�s Sound, Waters of the State, merging to the Gulf of Mexico at the Howard Park Causeway. The causeway and two bridges link the mainland portion of the park to a large island beach that fronts the Gulf of Mexico. This beach is designated by the Clean Beaches Council as a Blue Wave beach. The Blue Wave designation signifies sustainability of this environmental certification of beaches. National and international tourists wishing to visit beaches look for the Blue Wave designation as a means of selecting sites to visit. This is particularly emphasized and promoted in European travel selection. Repeat annual visitors to Howard Park Beach come from Germany, France and the Netherlands. Out of state repeat visitors come from New York, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. Over 70% of visitors to this beach are from out of county, with heavy use by citizens from Citrus, Hillsborough, Hernando and Pasco counties. These in-state, out-of-state, and international tourists add to the economic impact brought to Pinellas and the state by the visitors. Additionally special events held on the beach, such an annual statewide windsurfing tournament, and sanctioned Rotary Triathlon along with corporate events all generate tourist dollars as these visitors use this beach. This tourist value generates statewide revenue from hotel taxes, sales taxes and pure money spent by the visitors. The loss of access to the beach, which will happen if the causeway and bridges are not reconstructed, will have a statewide negative impact on tourism and revenue generation. |
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| Recipient: |
Parks & Recreation Department |
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Contact: |
Debbie Chayet |
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631 Chestnut Street |
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Contact Phone: |
(727) 464-5111 |
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Clearwater 33756 |
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Contact email: |
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| Counties: |
Pinellas |
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| Gov't Entity: |
Yes |
Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
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| Project Description: |
| Funding is sought for the critically needed replacement of two 120-foot bridges along the Howard Park Causeway and the reconstructive restoration of the causeway seawalls and sloped concrete shoulders. The bridges exhibit significant structural deficiencies, compounded by damage from tropical weather events such as the hurricane action of 2004 & 2005. The bridges also have insufficient safety features to safely accommodate motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists and fishermen. The causeway provides waterfront access to fishermen, swimmers, sunbathers, pedestrians, and other water related activities. The causeway, with its two bridges is the only link between the extremely popular beach jutting out into the Gulf of Mexico and the mainland park. The beach area is extremely heavily used and draws people from neighboring counties who make up over 70% of the beach users. Given recent safety issues with bridge collapses, this replacement is a high priority. This project entails replacing the two bridges along the causeway, providing safe access for the assorted users and performing reconstructive restoration on the causeway concrete slope pavement and seawalls. Roadway slopes will also be stabilized.
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Two new bridges.
Compliance with standard safety practices and dramatic safety improvements for site users.
Ability to keep beach open to the public.
Ability to provide wide range of recreational services to the over 17 million annual visitors to the Pinellas County Parks & Recreation Department properties.
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$1,515,900 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$5,620,923 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Construction |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local |
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Cash Amount |
$1,294,500 |
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In-kind Amount |
$46,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
Pinellas County Comprehensive Land Use Plan, Capital Improvement Element: CIP project#922470. |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
