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Public Steps Up To The Plate To Discuss Al Lang Field

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By CARLOS MONCADA, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 8, 2008

ST. PETERSBURG - Moving to appease residents who want the site of Al Lang Field preserved as parkland, the city council decided Thursday to seek community input on the fate of the 10-acre waterfront site if it does not become the new home of the Tampa Bay Rays.

The council approved a resolution to solicit public feedback on alternative uses for Progress Energy Park, including a public park, if the Rays' proposal to build a $450 million ballpark at the downtown spring training site fails to get on November's ballot or is defeated at the polls.

The so-called visioning process would occur while the city continues to evaluate the Rays' stadium proposal and seeks bids from developers to remake the team's current home at Tropicana Field.

The Rays have asked the council to decide by June whether to put the stadium proposal on November's ballot.

The issue of preserving Al Lang as parkland first came up in August, when the council overhauled its land development regulations. At the time, city staff members advised against it, saying they wanted to keep their options open because Al Lang would become available when the Rays move spring games to Port Charlotte in 2009.

In November, though, news broke of the Rays' proposal to redevelop the 86-acre Tropicana site and build a new open-air ballpark at Al Lang. City staff and the Rays, it turned out, had been discussing the project in secret since March or earlier under a confidentiality agreement.

Now some residents question whether the city had a secret agenda for Al Lang not revealed to the public in August, which officials have denied.

"Clearly, the subject of Al Lang Field was, indeed, No. 1 on your minds then," said Faith Andrews Bedford, a downtown resident. "But not in the manner that the taxpayers thought. As a voter, I feel betrayed. I am deeply disappointed."

Others echoed those sentiments. Some pointed out that an ordinance amending the new land regulations that came before the council Thursday did not include Al Lang, as council members said it would in August.

Council chairman James Bennett took issue.

"We have been under some heat and misconceptions," he told the audience. "I, for one, learned about the Rays' proposal when you learned about it. I think the allegations of secrecy, if there's something there, bring it forward. I think this council has been very prudent and has taken its time and been deliberative on this issue and open."

Reporter Carlos Moncada can be reached at (727) 451-2333 or cmoncada@tampatrib.com.

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