De-revising Bridle Path history

One week ago, in the Sunday, July 20 edition of the Key West Citizen , a guest editorial by former Key West Assistant City Manager John Jones was run under the title "Transportation Department got beach parking right the first time".   Within the editorial, John made the statement, "The small group of dissenters enlisted Last Stand and other environmental groups and packed the commission meeting that was to give final approval," and addtional comments about rudeness and strife. 

Last Stand feels the editorial was inaccurate both in portrayal and in fact, and has issued the following statement in response (which ran in today's Citizen):

State plan for beach was resolutely rejected Last Stand would like to comment on [former Key West Deputy City Manager] John Jones’ [guest column] in the July 20 Citizen. Mr. Jones states that in 2002 the state Department of Transportation (DOT) presented a redesign of South Roosevelt Boulevard that included paving the historic Bridle Path in order to shift the roadway and provide parking adjacent to Smathers’ Beach. He states that the general population approved the design. On the contrary, our community was very unified in its strong and vocal opposition (See Key West Citizen, March 31, 2002). Outrage at the unpopular plan was expressed by the City Commission, civic organizations ranging from the Chamber of Commerce to Last Stand, almost 100 individuals who turned out for the March 18 meeting, and later in newspaper articles, editorials and cartoons. This wide spectrum of opposition spoke loudly and clearly the wishes of the people, and the DOT finally listened and relented. Mr. Jones suggests returning to the rejected plan that would destroy the Bridle Path in order to provide more beachside parking. The Bridle Path was built by the WPA to beautify Key West and try to pull it out of the 1930s depression by making the island attractive to tourists. Today, the Bridle Path between the Salt Ponds and South Roosevelt continues to welcome visitors with breathtaking ocean vistas. For 80 years, Key Westers have enjoyed the double rows of tall coconut palms on the sandy path with its quiet mangrove edges where wading birds still feed. The Bridle Path is part of old Key West, its history and heritage. Last Stand remains committed to protecting the Bridle Path, our environment, and our quality of life, and we reject both Mr. Jones’ interpretation of history and his suggestions regarding paving over the Bridle Path. Albert Sullivan, President, Last Stand

Comments

[John Mertz]

As much as I like the Joneses, I must also add my two cents, having been an observer at the same meeting. This was one time that Ed Swift and Elliot Baron were in agreement (mirable dictu!), and both opposed the plan that had been devised by out-of-town DOT engineers.
The argument that really won the day was Ross McKee's demonstration of the reduction in traffic flow done with model cars.

And another two cents: 1. I don't see anything wrong with parking along the bridle path, and 2. Anyone with a Key West address ought to be able to park along the beach without charge or penalty.

[David Lybrand]

I spent a number of years in the Lantana area (small working-class town up between Palm Beach and Boca Raton). They had their own nice little beach on the other side of the Intercoastal Waterway from the main part of town. The beach was between the South Palm Beach condo strip and the Ritz hotel.

The Town of Latana (barely a mile-square) let residents buy a "beach parking" sticker for $15 for the year. You had to prove residence (utility bill or whatever) and the car it was affixed to had to be registered with a local address.

Seems like a nominal cost yearly beach-parking sticker for the people who don't bicycle or walk there would be a good compromise...