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After public pleas, Cocoa council directs staff to address Stradley Park septic and facility repairs
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Summary
Little League parents and coaches told the council Stradley Park facilities are unsafe; council directed staff to vacuum and reinspect septic systems immediately and to seek up to $150,000 to replace failing tanks if needed.
Parents, coaches and Little League leaders urged the City of Cocoa on April 29 to repair rapidly deteriorating conditions at Stradley Park, and the council directed staff to take immediate steps to address public-health concerns and to identify funding for repairs.
Crystal Wald, secretary of Cocoa Little League, presented photos and detailed facility problems including rotted dugout wood, torn netting, water-damaged bathrooms and standing water in storage rooms. "We are not a privileged league," she said, asking the council for help so "they should have some of these things and have a safe place that they can grow and play."
Staff reported the county health department had advised concessions at Stradley might not be allowed to operate until septic systems are inspected and passed. The city estimated there are four septic systems on site and said replacement could cost about $30,000 per system; staff framed a conservative total replacement estimate of roughly $120,000 and suggested an upper planning figure of $150,000 to ensure operability. City manager Stockton Witton told council the first step is to vacuum the tanks and request reinspection; if that fails, replacement or conversion to sewer will be needed.
Councilmember Koss moved to proceed with replacing failing septic systems as necessary, to direct staff to find the funding and to allow use of Junie Rios funds if appropriate; the motion was seconded and approved. Staff said the vacuum-and-reinspect step is quick and could restore concession operations in the near term, while longer-term options such as sewer conversion were already included in state appropriations requests.
The council also asked staff to coordinate with the Little League and with county parks maintenance on bids and timing for repairs and indicated it would seek to present exact funding sources after staff identifies available balances.
