BOB SOLARI, INDIAN RIVER COUNTY COMMISSIONER
In a recent Inside Vero article Derek Muller wrote about the need for new ball fields in the County. He noted that the County had some great fields but that they are essentially controlled by sport specific organizations. The South County fields are controlled by the Indian River Lacrosse Association. Fields at the fairgrounds are controlled by the Indian River Soccer Association. County owned Sampson and Riley Fields in Vero Beach are controlled by The Indian River Sports Complex for baseball teams. All great organizations and all great sports but Derek, echoing his friend Jason Redmon, noted that what was missing were fields that kids could simply go to for pick-up games.
When this was brought up at a County Commission meeting by Mr. Redmon, the Board agreed and has begun a process to develop a set of fields that would be controlled by no one group and open to all sports activities played on a field.
One appropriate site might be the former Gifford Road Landfill. As the name suggests this site located off 41st Street just west of 43rd Avenue was a former dumpsite. It was actively used from 1960 until 1977. After the landfill was closed it was discovered that toxic chemicals had been placed in the landfill. In 1994 the County began an assessment of the problem and began cleaning up the site.
The County has spent more than $3 million cleaning the site and remedial efforts and monitoring continues to this day. It is probable that the site can now be used again in a manner that benefits the entire County. I say probably because more testing will be necessary to insure that the site is safe for the specific uses that are now being suggested. The good news is that it has already been shown in other community that former landfills can, after appropriate remedial efforts, be safely used for community activities such as ball fields.
More good news is that the use of the former Gifford Road Landfill for recreational activities seems to be consistent with the wishes of the residents of the Gifford community. The Gifford Neighborhood Plan is now being updated and among the things the community expressed an interest in was the conversion of the landfill, if environmentally safe, into a park with recreational uses. The community also expressed significant interest in developing an area for a weekend food and produce market. The landfill site may be appropriate for both activities, which could turn a present community eyesore into another great County asset.
So, what’s next? The most important thing is to make sure that land is safe for any suggested uses. Also essential from the start is to be sure that this is something that the community wants and will support.
With clarity on these two issues a plan for the site can be developed. Aaron Bowles of MBV Engineers has already helped get us off to a good start with a concept design for 15 of the 55-acre site that includes four baseball fields, five football size fields, parking and a playground. Once other uses have been determined they will have to be added to the conceptual plan. This will be followed by a more detailed site plan, including placement of utilities, storm water and all other details included in any development project. And of course, the County will have to come up with the funds to do the actual project.
The project will take time. It will probably be done in two or three phases. Now is the time for citizens, with any interest in the future use of the former landfill site, to offer their input. They can do this by emailing Jason Redmon at Jason@thesidelineradioshow.com or by contacting me at either bsolari@ircgov.com or 772-226-1438. Together we can turn a present liability into a community asset and help Jason Redmon build his Dreamfields in Indian River County.
Indian River Guardian 
I almost fell off my chair when I read this. The Bob Sommer base ball field on East Indian River Drive is in the process of being abandoned because of county cut backs. The gates have locks on them, the infield grass is dead, the bull pen’s grass is almost knee deep, the entire ball park is starting to looking like Ethiopia. I suggest Bob Solari come by with his lawn mower, weed trimmer and garden hose to make the ball field look like it used to be before his fiscal cuts.
Mr. Solari should offer more clarification on the statement “The project will take time.” The children of this community only have one childhood. They don’t have time to sit idle as the wheels of bureauracy slowly grind on and on. The citizens of this community need a more definitie timetable.
Bob Sommer field belongs to the city of Vero Beach, not the county. Bob Solari is a county commissioner.
If it isn’t taken care of its because of all the cut backs that the City of Vero Beach council has requested, not the county.
John, I don’t think Bob Solari owns a lawnmower because he has a rock garden instead of a lawn. You know, save the Lagoon etc. Sounds to me like this is nothing more that a politician who wants to go places.
Jeanette,
You are right about that belongs to COVB. However, the budget cuts happened because county refused to help with the cost of the maintenance of the fields even though 70% of the kids playing baseball are from the county. So indirectly County is responsible for closing that field.
Sorry but the ball field is being abandoned because they county will not pay for their players portion of the league
When writing about cutbacks it is important to note the Troika has been the voting majority. If we left it up to Pilar Turner more city cutbacks should be on the agenda. Naturally, if you want a class A city, parks must be taken care of by city workers, but she wants fewer workers not more. If she had her way, our play areas would look more like sugar cane fields rather then ballfields. She can’t have it both ways,either keep workers and have good fields or cut the number of workers and watch the grass grow.