Back and forth. Up and down. Yes and no.
That’s been the way of things for the past four years as city commissioners and citizens tried to decide what to do with the empty lots across the street from Anna Maria’s iconic city pier.
Now, it seems, something will be done with City Pier Park at the corner of South Bay Boulevard and Pine Avenue.
The City Pier Park Committee presented Phase 1 of its park plan to commissioners May 7, during a special work session.
The committee asked for $150,000.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy suggested the commissioners authorize half of the estimated cost, $75,000.
The money will come from the city’s recreational reserve fund, which is used for parks and recreation projects around the city.
Murphy also suggested the committee could seek the remainder of the funding from outside resources, including the Manatee County Tourist Development Council, government parks and recreation grants, and from private donors.
The commission was unanimous in approving the $75,000 proposal, with a recommendation to the committee to pursue outside funding resources.
Each committee member — chair Bob Patten, Dusty Crane, Stevie Coppin, Liza Walker and Ruth Uecker — spoke passionately about the work that went into creating the plan.
“We want to build a place where people can come together, sit on a bench and enjoy the sunrise,” said Uecker.
Some residents had suggested selling the lots or creating a parking lot, but the committee members said the overwhelming response was to keep the space green and make it beautiful.
“We want the Anna Maria Green — a proposed name for the park — to be a vision of what we all hold dear preservation of the old Florida charm,” said Crane.
To keep the charm and the city’s costs within a reasonable budget, the committee suggested renovating the park in phases.
Phase 1 involves putting out requests for proposals for architects, landscape designers and contractors.
Phase 1 also involves building a public restroom, planting native landscaping, marking pathways and installing an electric cart charging station.
Phase 1 does not include public parking, which, according to the city pier operator, is needed in the area. It leaves the park with limited access for pedestrians and bicyclists, not motorists, as the pier parking lot is reserved for pier patrons.
The committee plans to return to the commissioners with future phases for the park.
The committee was to begin seeking proposals May 11 for architectural landscape design and estimates for the restroom and other amenities.
Phase 1 plan, tentative dates:
• Groundbreaking ceremony and surveying, May 15.
• Grading of the ground by a contractor.
• Construction of the restroom.
• Landscaping, including plantings, pathways, electric.
• Sign installations.
• Electric cart charging station installation
• Official opening, Jan. 1, 2016.