Village manager recommends reusing school building and asks school district to assume maintenance as turf debate grows

Village Manager Ron Saunders told the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee that an existing locker‑room and concession building behind first base at Founders Park can absorb the functions of a proposed new structure — a change he said could save “a million and a half to $2 million” in construction costs and reduce the project’s footprint.

Saunders said he has discussed the idea with school‑district officials and with village council members, and that his recommendation — which he presented to the advisory committee for comment — would remove the proposed second building and relocate concession and restroom functions into the facility already on site. “We’re not — I’m not planning to recommend a penny,” Saunders said, describing the village’s current position on paying construction costs if the district wants the field upgraded.

Why it matters: The village does not own the school field; Saunders said the Monroe County School District has signaled a preference for artificial turf but that the decision, vendor selection and the precise turf specification remain unresolved. He told the committee the district should be responsible for 100% of annual maintenance and eventual replacement of any artificial surface, and that those responsibilities must be captured in a written interlocal agreement between the village and the school board.

Public health and practical concerns dominated the three dozen minutes of public comment that followed. Captain Ed Davidson (Florida Key Citizens Coalition) called the plan a “commercial exploitation” of the park and warned that converting the principal green space into an “AstroTurf stadium” would amount to turning “God’s green grass ball field into a giant woven plastic rug.” Parents and health professionals cited heat and injury risks: Elizabeth Brown, a parent, said of artificial fields, “It’s hot. It’s incredibly hot,” and described a child who altered his gait after turf burned through his cleats. Dr. Morris, an Alamarada Fire Rescue medical director, urged preserving the grass and said he had documentation showing turf‑related safety concerns.

Committee members said they want detailed vendor specifications and cost models before taking a final position on grass versus artificial surfaces. Saunders and several committee members repeatedly noted that “artificial turf” is not a single product — different infill materials, pile depths and backing systems have different heat and runoff profiles — and that vendors need to be identified so the committee can review the actual product the district proposes. Saunders said the school board is expected to revisit the project on Oct. 7 and that the advisory committee will seek an update on that meeting.

What’s next: Saunders recommended that the committee tour the existing school‑district building he cited, and he said staff will return with specific vendor information when it becomes available. The committee did not take a formal vote on turf tonight; it asked staff and the district for more precise proposals before deciding.

Sources: Remarks by Ron Saunders, village manager; public comment from Captain Ed Davidson, Elizabeth Brown, Dr. Morris, Jamie Engel and others during the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee meeting.