Wells, Not Lake Eva's Water, Will Irrigate Park

HAINES CITY | Low lake levels have forced city officials to abandon a plan to use water from Lake Eva to irrigate the new park landscaping.

At a meeting Thursday night, city Community Redevelopment Agency board members approved a plan to allow the city to drill two wells on the Lake Eva Park property to be used for irrigation.

"The engineers had thought we would be able to pull out of the lake, but the lake is too low so we need to put in two wells,'' said city Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Callihan. "The engineers will be redesigning the irrigation system.''

Callihan said the wells would be able to provide the needed water for landscaping at the park, which is undergoing a $28 million renovation.

CRA board members also approved adding back in some items that had been cut from the original plans as a way to save money.

Callihan said there had been some savings on items, and the board approved adding back in some features like the slide for the aquatic pool area and a concession stand.

CRA board member David Wilkinson said he thought the added attractions to the pool area would help draw more people.

"I think the more enticing it is, the more people will come and use it,'' Wilkinson said.

City Commissioner Philip Hinkle pointed out that the city charges a fee to use the city pool and said with a nicer pool area, the city might need to look at charging non-residents more to use the pool facilities.

"I am not suggesting that for residents. But this is going to be a regional pool. I think it will be the nicest park in the county. We are going to have a lot of people using it,'' Hinkle said.

He also added the concession stand will be one way to help generate money to offset pool costs as well.

Callihan said he is currently getting costs for improvements to the boat dock and the possibility of a fishing pier as well at Lake Eva.

The board voted, 6-1, to add the changes back in. City Commissioner Adam Burgess was opposed.

CRA board member Heidi Lawhorn said she would like to see the idea for a floating dock added back in.

"I think it would be a wonderful thing if we could pull off the floating dock,'' Lawhorn said, adding that when lake levels are low a floating dock still allows boaters to use the lake.

Callihan said he is also looking at getting costs to renovate the old Armory annex building that at one time served as the offices for the city police detective division.

"That is the centerpiece of the park,'' Callihan said. "We want to look at improving it and maybe making the bottom an open-air pavilion and fixing the roof and the brick work. We would bring the building back up to par.''

The original Armory building, which sat in the center of the redesigned park, had to be torn down when it was partially destroyed when a trio of hurricanes hit the area in 2004.

[ Amber Smith can be reached at amber.smith@theledger.com or 863-422-6800. ]