Item O03
Board of County Commissioners
Agenda Item Summary
Meeting Date: January 19, 2005
Bulk Item: Yes C No oY
Division: Board of County Commissioners
Department: George R. Neugent
AGENDA ITEM WORDING:
A request to enter into an inter-local agreement with the Monroe County School Board to
design, construct and maintain mutually a joint use Park at the Sugarioaf SChool.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
This item has been discussed conceptually previously by the Board to provide direly
needed recreation fadlities to the Lower Keys.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACDON:
CONTRACT I AGREEMENT CHANGES:
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
TOTAL COST:
COST TO COUNTY: $ ,;(~
BUDGETED: YES C NO C
Source of Funds:
REVENUE PRODU,C C~IN 'YES C NO C AMT PER MONTH: YEAR:
APPROVED BY: ~TY ATTY RISK MANAGEMENT C
APPROVAL:
DOCUMENTATION: INCLUDED W" TO FOLLOW C NOT REQUIRED C
DISPosmON:
AGENDA ITEM # 0 ~ ~
SUGARLOAF SCHOOLS
Theresa Axford, Principal
Jim Hall, Assistant Principal
Marilyn Douthett, Assistant Principal
The Honorable Murray Nelson
Mayor of Monroe County
99198 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, Florida 33037
~'f&;V7E fl1 / LL E R....
ar Mayor Nelson,
With the election of our new S
once again to notify you that R
I agreement between the
andy Acevedo, I wanted to write
, .
m pursumg an
evelop the fields at
255 CRANE BOULEVARD
SUMMERLAND KEY, FL
PHONE: 305 -745 -3282 33042 FAX: 305 -745 -20 19
" A GREAT PLACE FOR KIDS" "A CHALLENGING EXPERIENCE"
Jan-04-2005 03:33pm Fram-SUGARLOAF ELEMlMIOOLE SCHOOL
3057452019
T-488 P 002/004 F-Z87
SUGARLOAF SCHOOLS
Theresa Axford. Principal
Jim Hall, Assistant Principal
Marilyn Douthett, Assistant Principal
Oct. 29, 2004
The Honorable Murray Nelson
Mayor of Monroe County
99198 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, Florida 33037
Dear Mayor Nelson,
> , rm writing to you to ask assistance in beginning a process which will generate a
recreational area for boys and girls who live from Big Pine Key to Key West, Florida.
The area which needs to be developed lies adjacent,toUSl at the 20 nrile marker. It runs
alongside bfSugarloaf School.
Two'years ago a committee of parents from Sugarloafapproached the County
Commission~ut the necdfor a recreational area for our children in this area. Mr.
George Neugent was supportive.of our efforts and talk began about a possible Interlocal
agreement b~een the school board and the county which would bring the recreation
area to life. Btiedon the Interlocal concept, the county would develop 'the land and the
school board would agree to maintain it. The Superintendent at the time, Mike Lannon
was in favor'ot':this agreement and the current Superintendent, Jolm Padget supports this
I . ,.
effort wholeheartedly.
To>&ive some history, when Sugarloaf School Was built, the area, of which I am
speaking,:jvils intended to be developed into a baSeball field (regulation size), a soccer
field, a 'football field, a track and 4 tennis courts. The land was cleared and pennits were
obtained to do all these things.
Because of funding constraints, and rightly so. these needs were put on the back
burner because the'tnost :important priority in the school district for students. parents. and
teachers alike is, adequate facilities and classroom space to educate our children.
But fat us at SugarloafSchool and the surrounding communitieS. it is of
paramount Importance that we develop this recreational area for our Children. Although
space has been allocated and developed in Big Pine for recreation, the area is not large
enough to 511PPort the kinds of sports activities that our children need. Being in the
unincorporated part of Monroe County, we feel that it is the county who should look after
the interests of the children and families in this area by providing a community
recreational space that would keep our children engaged in productive activities. They
would be safe in an athletic complex and not congregating where inappropriate things
could happen. We would also be promoting healthy life styles in a country where
childhood obesity is a threat to adult health and future productive lives. The development
of athletic fields at Sugarloaf School would certainly make a difference in the lives of the
255 CRANE BOULEVARD
SUMMERLAND KEY,FL
PHONE: 305-745-3202 33042
riA PLACE WHERE DREAMS BEcoME REAL"
FAX: 30:5-745"2019
Jan-04-Z005 03:34pm From-SUGARLOAF ELEMlMIDDLE SCHOOL
305T45Z019
T-498 P 003/004 F-Z8T
children and parents living in this section of the Keys in positive ways tOO numerous to
quantify. please assist us in this endeavor.
Sincerely.
f~a~
Theresa Axford --1- --
Principal
Cc: John Padget, Sllperintendent of Schools; Commissioners Dixie Spehar. George
Neugent, Charles "Sonny" McCoy. David Rice; Monroe County School Board; Patricia
Roman. Sugarloaf School Advisory Council Chair
November 26, 2004
Dear Commissioner:
I am not only a parent of a child at Sugarloaf Elementary School, but I am a former
student as well. I remember the old SugarloafElementary. As an adult, I am truly
impressed about the positive changes that have been made at the school since I was a
child. Times have changed in the Florida Keys and to my heart's discontent, there
remains one key area that has not been developed. There are no playing fields for our
children. Not even at our very own school!
As a lifetime resident and full-time Realtor I understand and can appreciate development
in the keys. When I was growing up on Big Pine Key there weren't any sports programs.
I didn't have the opportunity to learn a new skill, exercise, and socialize. These are three
key elements that we need to remain healthy and continue to do so through adolescence,
So I ask, where is the true quality of life for our youth? Yes, we are in paradise, but
children don't know that and cannot appreciate it at their age. They want to play with
their friends after school and release the bottled up energy.
There isn't a fully organized area from the 7-mile bridge to Key West. Though I am
grateful that we have St. Peters Church and Watson Field, neither support the adequate
need for regulations in different sports. Moreover, the issue with preservation and
conservation doesn't make it conducive for parents and participants to push the
development of fields.
SugarloafElementary School has the area to be fully developed for our children to get the
necessary exercise, skills, and socialization needed for a healthy development. There
isn't much else to offer our youth. It's also positive reinforcement. It's a part of their
school. It's pride. It's discipline. It's skill development. It's mental and physical health.
Must I continue?
When proceeding with your planning, please include the funding necessary to move
forward for our youth and community. We need a recreational facility.
Sincerely,
Sylvia DeLorenzo-Werling
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