A debate over the future of Tom and Kitty Stuart Park in Madeira Beach has emerged as the city works to rebuild the beachfront property nearly 18 months after Hurricane Helene devastated it.

The city’s Public Works department says it plans to restore the park to its pre-Helene condition, including an upgraded restroom. The proposed improvements include a seawall, a paver driveway, additional parking, a sidewalk, an elevated permanent bathroom, a picnic table, and landscaping.

Before the storm, the park had 17 parking spots. Under the new plan, two golf-cart spaces and one compact-car space will be eliminated to accommodate an ADA-compliant ramp and stairs to the restroom.

Some residents and the owner of Lisa’s Café, however, object to the scope of the parking area. They want the park to resemble what it looked like before 2021, when only five parking spots existed, before the opening of the neighboring Caddy’s restaurant. Café owner Lisa Ammons cited the original deed from the Stuart family, which states the land was donated solely for use as a city park, and warned that the property could revert to the heirs if that condition isn’t met.

The increased parking at the park stems from an agreement the city made with Caddy’s, which purchased the property of a previously planned restaurant. Under that deal, Caddy’s gave the city a five-foot land easement, paid to rebuild the park, and contributed $25,000 for a portable restroom, in exchange for more parking spaces and the removal of a fence to allow a drive-thru.

City officials say they are operating within the terms of the donation. Mayor Anne Marie Brooks pushed back against characterizations that the space is no longer a park, noting that it retains beach access, parking, and restroom facilities. Commissioner Housh Ghovaee acknowledged the city must honor the original deed but questioned where the line between “park” and “parking” lies.

Public Works is currently awaiting the restroom design before finalizing a revised site plan. The project will then go out to bid. The park is not expected to fully reopen for at least six months, though it could partially open before the restroom is complete.

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