Resident seeks public input on Veterans Park

FLORENCE -- Martin Dean said he kept hearing members of the Florence City Council say there would be public input into a proposed attraction planned for Veterans Park.

After waiting for a public forum to be scheduled, Dean said he decided to move forward on his own with a public meeting, which will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at Broadway Recreation Center.

"The council kept saying we need to get ideas for the park, but they never did anything, so I decided to do this on my own,'' Dean said.

"The council has not had any input from the public, so this is our chance.''

Dean said he rented the recreation center and is hoping residents come to share their ideas.

An attraction at Veterans Park is a part of the Retirement Systems of Alabama's agreement with the Shoals that resulted in the development of two golf courses and the Marriott Shoals Hotel and Spa.

One idea drawing the most attention from the council is a Bass Pro Shops at the park as an anchor for other retail establishments. An outlet mall and a historical-based attraction also have been mentioned.

"I'm not against Bass Pro or any outlet mall, I just think there needs to be something much more creative located there that would be a better attraction to the area,'' Dean said.

He said he is concerned about putting commercial projects at a public facility.

"I am not against developing something out there, and the park does need to be developed. I just don't think it needs to be commercial,'' Dean said.

He said he has invited the mayor and city council members to attend Thursday's meeting. So far, he said the only councilman to respond has been Scott Carrier.

"I hope they all come, but Carrier is the only one I've heard back from who is coming,'' Dean said.

Dean said the public forum will be recorded, comments transcribed and then presented to the council.

"The council has not even entertained any ideas other than Bass Pro. We were told they would,'' Dean said.

"There are ideas out there, and this is a chance for the public to come and present those ideas.''

Tom Smith can be reached at 740-5757 or tom.smith@timesdaily.com.