Waterfront 'Gravel vs. Dirt' Decision Set for February

Following almost a year of squabbling, the decision whether to keep petanque courts or replace the area with grass to accommodate overflow parking on the riverfront will finally be made at the Fernandina Beach City Commission meeting on Feb. 4.

Last week, Mayor James Antun​​ dubbed the discussion “gravel versus grass” as commissioners weighed in on both sides while trying to reduce the cost of the waterfront park to $2 million.

Supporters of keeping the petanque courts in place argue that the gravel and timber area could still be used for parking when not in use by players. Proponents for the grass replacement maintain the area should be dedicated full time​ for parking.

At its Jan. 7​​ commission workshop, Deputy City Manager Jeremiah Glisson​​ told commissioners that KBT Construction's bid to build the park came in at $2.2 million. Commissioners then began deliberating on how to cut $200,000 to keep the project within the specified budget.

Leaving the petanque​ courts in place would save $46,600 in removal costs. The city would also save the cost of installing turf and irrigation for the 13,000-square-foot area.

Glisson​​ told commissioners that the gravel courts with timber borders could have a variety of uses if left in place. "You can use them for parking, put vendor tents on them or food trucks," Glisson​​ said.

Vice Mayor Darron Ayscue​​ charged that the discussion regarding the petanque​ courts was disingenuous, given that the public was not given sufficient notice that the topic was going to be raised during the workshop.

"If you want to bring petanque​ back, let's have the discussion again and allow the public to come up and either voice their support of it (being removed) or voice their concerns about keeping it or changing it to parking. We went down this road and went through fire to get to this point," Ayscue​​ said. "I cannot speak loudly enough to not have public comment and with a stroke of a pen (go back on a decision) is absolutely wrong."

The Amelia Island Boules Club, the biggest petanque​ club in the U.S., currently plays its winter games​​and hosts an international tournament at the courts located on the waterfront property.

The previous city commission and the city's Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee spent months deciding what course of action to take regarding petanque​ on the waterfront. The city just recently renovated petanque​ courts at Central Park to make them tournament legal for hosting events. That commission had also approved a waterfront park plan that eliminated those petanque​ courts from the park.

Following the November city commission elections, three commissioners voiced support for keeping the existing petanque​ courts. The city had spent $20,000 renovating those courts in 2020.

Last Tuesday, Commissioner Tim Poynter said it didn't make sense to have vehicle parking on grass with sprinkler systems.

"It's already hard enough to grow grass in Florida (without vehicle parking)," he said. Poynter said vehicles parking in that grassed area would ruin the turf and damage sprinkler heads costing the city even more funds to maintain it.

Commissioner Joyce Tuten said, "However we vote on petanque​, half the city is going to hate us, and half the city is going to love us. We just need to make a decision," she said. Tuten said she favored keeping the courts.

Commissioner Genece Minshew backed options that lowered the cost of building the project. "I want this to go in with the least cost possible," Minshew said. "(Leaving petanque​) reduces the overall costs and gives us flexible space."

KBT officials said the waterfront park project could begin while the commissioners considered the petanque​ issue at February's meeting.

Commissioners agreed to eliminate $173,000 for a splash pad and $94,000 for a kids’ play structure from the park plan.