Description
Who is in charge of maintaining the conditions of Fossil Park? Why does the City Parks Dept not speak with City Sanitation and Codes Compliance Dept and determine a schedule for keeping this park in sanitary condition. It is well used, and pitifully ignored, except for the one city worker that picks up trash in rover. And, that is to be polite, a" half- way" job. He doesnt bother to get out of the rover and walk to pick up trash but just reaches his stick out of the rover and if it doesnt reach, then it doesn't get picked up. Leaves lots of litter around trash cans as he only feels he is there to change bags. I have spoken with neighbors, who have lived in the neighborhood for over 30 years and they can remember "when the park and creek were beautiful."
1. The city is in violation of their own compliance codes as follows: Vegetation is well over 6 inches on both creek banks and large ponds. It is now to a point that the vegetation is touching from one bank to the other on most of the areas where the creek borders the park; from Atwood, side alleys, and all the way to North Branch St Pete Library.
I have been told by city in phone conversation that they are responsible for maintaining the vegetation on the creek banks.
2. The stench is horrible, especially on hotter days; water is not moving, mosquitoes are breeding and it is a true public health hazard.
3. Creek bed and Pond dredging needs to be completed as there is litter everywhere and slime from years of city neglect. Again, the neighbors who have lived longest in the area say there used to be blue crab, turtles and other wildlife in the creek.
4. Creek banks and pond banks are caving in on sides and eroding into a silt pile. Also, a safety hazard as this neglect has caused erosion into side walk in park and alley on creek side.
5.Dying Palm Trees and other trees in desperate need of care. They have not been properly maintained. With the exception of some trees cut back to reach burned out park lights that were just installed ( after lights being out for months) and a small amount of one day tree maintenance ( very minimal) a few weeks ago.
I have never lived anywhere that a park and waterway surround are this neglected. The one photo does not begin to cover all the issues.
also asked...
A. Fossil Park
12 Comments
應答 St. Pete PROD integration (Verified Official)
St. Pete PROD integration (Verified Official)
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
2. The side that was trimmed still has some higher frond growth that was neglected to be cut.
3. Dredging of pond and canal? Will the city sanitation and parks dept work together to address the stench, litter, and mosquitoes, and overall unsanitary conditions of the water?
4. Crumbling banks eroding in park into sidewalks and also on alley that sides canal have not been addressed? This is a safety issue as some small child can easily fall into pond as bank is giving way and there should be hazard tape until repair is made. Same for alley side as bank is crumbling and causing road to give way. Cars use alley on a daily basis and this also creates a very dangerous situation. IN previous posts it has been noted it is the responsibility of the city to maintain the canal banks to the edge top edge of alley. Supposedly the alley was permitted to older property owners decades ago. This is something that needs to be addressed to property owners as they are not aware and do not understand their requirements for upkeep. The city is also not in compliance with their own codes regarding the upkeep and impending safety risks their neglect is causing.
St. Pete PROD integration (Verified Official)
The canals along he north and south parts of he park are maintained by the Stormwater department. We notified them of this maintenance request and their reply is that they will make every effort to address the canals early this week."
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
Thank you for answering the questions: I know there were several issues and it just appeared from the initial contact that the one person was all that was sent to trim one side of the bank and that was the end of it. This is helpful to know which dept has the priority for different items, and also the way the trimming is done for trees. I think a few of these palms are dead as it looks like they have not been touched in a very long time for growth to be trimmed back....there is no green anywhere.
I think the only one left unanswered is the question regarding the erosion of the banks, which I was told are maintained by the city on both sides of the canal. The erosion is in the park is into the sidewalk from the pond and bank erosion of the canal on the alley sides all the way down 71st ave n and the side alley from Atwater. Does Stormwater manage both? Also, the pond erosion or is that a Parks Dept issue?
The canals are horrific. They are so overgrown that kids are hanging out after hours behind the vegetation and smoking as they are easily hidden on the canal side from the park.
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
Fossil Park Neighborhood would like to request a meeting with CSC regarding the lack of any further attempt to address the following at Fossil Park: 1. Overgrown vegetation on the canal side that borders Atwood, 70th, and small dead end street that surrounds Fossil Park. The water has now receded and only one side of the vegetation has been cut: the one that borders the park on the park side only and it was sprayed after being cut into the bank, which causes erosion and chemicals leaching into the canal water that drains to bay!! Why would this be done?? The city still HAS NOT taken care of city overgrowth of vegetation on the city maintenance side. This was reported over 3 months ago! The homeowner is supposed to take care of their property to bank edge and city DOES NOT FOLLOW THEIR OWN CODES!
2. Canal surrounding park on all sides and park pond needs to be dredged; it is almost dry on one end closer to midway 70th and 4th. It is an absolute eyesore with litter and smells are unbelievable with dead and rot. Overgrowth is also an issue. However, it needs to be handled responsibly for wildlife to be able to use . This water needs to be free flowing again for proper maintenance. Neighbors state this was a bird sanctuary at one time and also that this is a storm canal! It has been so horribly neglected by the city ( banks are eroding as they clear cut on park side to much as well as 70th side caving in). These banks need to be reinforced as the rains just crumble the bit of sand that was put in the one huge side that was caving.
I see that the Mirror Park location is getting trash removed from their pond. Additionally, it would appear the Coquina Park city neglect issues ( overgrowth coming onto owners property) are getting attended to as well...Why are these issues not being attended to properly in Fossil Park Neighborhood?? What does it take to get some feedback regarding timelines and what is going to happen to take care of the items reported?
St. Pete PROD integration (Verified Official)
St. Pete PROD integration (Verified Official)
An anonymous SeeClickFix user (Registered User)
St. Pete PROD integration (Verified Official)
關閉 Customer Support (Verified Official)
Thank you for your past submission via SeeClickFix. The City of St Petersburg periodically reviews past reports that are made from citizens within our city limits, and in an effort to clean-up old issues that were resolved some time ago, we are marking as 'closed' those issues that were submitted in the past for which the work has been completed or the issue has otherwise been resolved.
If you think for any reason that the issue you submitted in the past might still be unresolved, please feel free to submit a new report with the SeeClickFix St. Pete website and we will make sure the issue is directed to the appropriate City department to be addressed as soon as possible. If you've already submitted a more current issue report, there is no need to re-open this one.
Thank you again - Sincerely,
Mayor's Action Center