Residents express concerns about Oldsmar’s zipline park
A number of Oldsmar residents expressed concerns about the city’s recently approved zipline park during the City Council meeting on Tuesday.
When the news broke that Oldsmar was going to be the first city in the Tampa Bay area to receive a zipline adventure park, many people reacted with a mixture of surprise and excitement.
In fact, according to officials, a social media post about the pending project received more views and shares than any other news item in the city’s history.
But on Tuesday night, a handful of Oldsmar residents appeared before the City Council to voice their concerns about the park, which will be located in the Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve and is expected to be completed later this spring.
“I’m here to ask some questions in regards to the zipline,” Brian Mahoney, who lives near the park, said.
“First is, how did you inform the residents…of your plans to build the zipline?”
When Mahoney was told that the item was listed on prior council agendas, he went on to question numerous aspects of the project, including safety, liability and parking issues; where the proceeds from the park would go; how often the facility would be inspected and by whom; and the impact the park could have on property values.
“I’m concerned this may remove us from being a nice community that you want to raise your kids in, where you come to work and play, and we’re shifting to something else,” Mahoney said.
“I think you need to consider reevaluating where you’re going with this…because we’re taking away the small town feel, and I don’t want it turning into a tourist trap.”
Mayor Doug Bevis was quick to respond to Mahoney’s points.
“I don’t think that was ever the intention of the council,” Mayor Bevis said.
“I think the intent of the council was to A, showcase our community. I think we’re very proud of it, and I’m not ashamed to say that.”
“The other thing is, I think our intent is to actually improve the value of people’s homes by improving the quality of life that people experience in Oldsmar,” he added. “Old may be in our name, but we’re anything but old…and we would do anything but diminish values.”
Bevis’s fellow council members concurred with the mayor.
“No matter where we do anything within the city, there is going to be some residential impact that we try to minimize,” Vice Mayor Gabby McGee said, adding there’s an additional safety factor with the adventure park because patrons need to provide identification in order to use the facility.
“I understand your concerns, and I think we all do,” Council member Eric Seidel said. “But a lot of the issues that you brought up, we discussed during the process we went through.”
Seidel did agree that the method of notifying residents affected by such projects needs to improve, and he conceded that speed bumps may be necessary at the preserve in order to control the traffic back there.
“I think you raise some good points,” Seidel said to Mahoney.
Shortly after a couple more residents came forward and voiced similar concerns about the park—one woman called it a potential hangout for child molesters—the council thanked them for their input and assured everyone that all the aspects of the project had been well thought out.
“I appreciate all your concerns,” Mayor Bevis said. “But we didn’t do this without any thought about the things you mentioned.”
After the meeting, the mayor expounded on his position.
“I think we addressed a lot of their concerns,” he told Oldsmar Connect. “Like with any park, you can’t control everything. With any public project, there’s a risk. And we feel this is a measured risk.”
“The people elected us as representatives of the city to use our best judgment when it comes to issues like this,” Bevis added. “In this case, we felt the park’s value to the community outweighed the concerns.”
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In regards to the community concerns about the zip-line, my concern isn’t the attraction itself. So long as risk is properly mitigated I have no objections.
However, as a business person I would love nothing more than Oldsmar providing me some land at a dollar a year to conduct business. This seems like too much of a sweetheart deal between government and private industry. What is in this deal for Oldsmar tax payers?
In my mind the best arbitrator of “fair or not” can be answered with a simple question: Can Oldsmar offer similar terms to other local businesses? I seriously doubt that it could. This is a large land lot on a prime waterfront location being given away. I stand here ready to double the annual lease at $2 per year. If that sounds absurd, $1 per year is twice as absurd.
Mayor Bevis, at this point I’m expecting something big from you to offset this sweetheart deal. The Oldsmar Rays will suffice. Now that’s a smart idea.
I left one key factor out of my last comment regarding the lease price of the Zipline land. Oldsmar gets 5% of gross sales. That’s definitely not nothing. Not sure how fair that is (perhaps there are similar deals to compare with). Bottom line is there is much more in it for Oldsmar than the lease price. Overall I would say Mayor Bevis and the city council are doing a great job. If they manage to persuade the Rays to call Oldsmar home, they rise to local hero status.
Bringing the Rays to Oldsmar would be the biggest mistake in the city’s history. Goodbye to local business. Hello more franchises, significantly increased crime, and the worst traffic of Oldsmar residents’ lives.
I feel this is a disservice to the residents who live in this area. I’m willing to believe they are not in favor of it. Privacy is no longer a priority. Not to mention the noise. Terrible decision I would think!
I think the zipline was an awful idea amd shame on the city for wanting to add something like this to “make the town better”. The part of advising the city of oldsmar that things of this nature and everything else definitely needs to be changed. I have beem a resident of Oldsmar for 28 years and didn’t plan to move away at all. Now i second guess that… Why would i want to go live somewhere that was so beautiful and peacful next to my whole family almost amd have to listen to all of the noise and ridiculous people go across. I like i said have lived here my entire life and heard of this project at oldsmar days! Them my family and i were having a BBQ and sat there and watched already people going across. Not to mention how many people just stoped moving in the middle of the line.. I am really sorry i was un able to attend the meeting this past Tuesday i honestly didnt know there was one until reading this . i really really am sorry that this zip line is in oldsmar. And the $1 thing. Auh. Ridiculous. My boyfriend cant even start a busines in oldsmar like he wants to because the city wants the land so they are making it impossible to sell anything. So much for expanding amd helping people.i could honestly go on for hours but its just going to upset me. Not like anything anyone says os going to make this thing go away.
They’re pulling this off everywhere – exact same way (must have a template somewhere on state parks or national parks level. Not notifying people then saying it was not on purpose, acting like they’re listening to the people’s ‘concerns’ then minimize what is said. They see dollar signs and that’s it – then run to legal to see how to get it done….the people’s voices come way down the line AFTER it’s all planned, and hoping they don’t wind of it at all. Then the officials seem to enjoy just making up stories or boldly lying throughout the meetings.
In the City of Largo they’re trying to jam one in to a TINY plot of land maybe 3-4 acres in size between a recreation center and within literally 100 FEET of residential homes, despite standing room crowds of citizens who did not want it. Here’s the link to full Video of City of Largo Commission Meeting August 2nd http://ec4.cc/hff224e43 (cut and paste link) Zip-Line part starts at: 42:15 AND if not disgusted enough by that one, here’s the 2nd Commission Meeting http://ec4.cc/sf2f73a58 (cut and paste link).
We all need to start taking these arrogant ones OUT OF OFFICE by recall or vote out when time. What gets me is then they all tout how they’re going green while destroying what nature and calm there is for entertainment.