Winter Park votes to sell proposed parkland

A piece of city property is going out to bid – and some local residents aren’t happy about it.

Winter Park City Commissioners voted to put a notice of disposal on the Blake Yard property located at 301 W. Comstock Ave. The vote went 3-1, with Commissioner Carolyn Cooper dissenting and Commissioner Greg Seidel absent from the meeting.

The property was the proposed site for Comstock Garden, a mini park that would include a small garden and a new trail head for an 8-foot-wide trail planned along the west side of the SunRail train tracks.

Winter Park resident landscape architect Forrest Michael, designer of the proposed garden, told the City Commission on Monday that it was unfair not to allow him to present his plan before the city decided to put the property out to bid.

Michael has worked with the city on various projects including the Central Park rose garden, the Central Park master plan and the SunRail train station.

“I’ve asked six times to get a small little slot on a Commission work session so that our group, which consists of lots of people, could at least speak for 9 minutes and give you a recap,” Michael said.

“I feel very slighted as a tax payer and businessman in this city who’s done so much. I feel slighted that we don’t get a chance to speak.”

Michael added that the project has the support of at least 30 residents who signed a petition, as well as the Hannibal Square Community Land Trust, Casa Feliz and the city’s Transportation Advisory Board and Keep Winter Park Beautiful and Sustainable Advisory Board.

Cooper said she found it unfair that residents have put a great deal of time and effort to plan out Comstock Garden and haven’t had the chance to present publicly.

“The one discomfort that I have with this is we haven’t actually considered the proposal for open space, nor have we allowed that particular resident an opportunity to come forward and present the ideas,” Cooper said.

“Illustration money has been invested by some of our residents that would very much like to see the city use this as green space, an open space and welcoming to our visitors who come in on SunRail.”

For many years the Blake Yard property has used as a parking lot for city utility vehicles. The city was considering either the garden option, turning it into public parking or selling it. City Commissioners opted for the latter option.

City Manager Randy Knight said that the Comstock Garden project could still come to fruition if the City Commission chooses the proposal over other purchasing offers.