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Four Freedoms beach funding approved

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The Community Redevelopment Agency will not have use of Tourist Development Council funds to help construct a beach at Four Freedoms Park, so they pledged their own money on Thursday to make the project a reality.
Identified in their new vision plan as an asset to the district, the CRA board approved $41,785 for the beach project, including $15,000 for sand.
Parks and Recreation Director Steve Pohlman said the TDC only approved $60,000 for capital projects, which did not include Four Freedoms.
Pohlman wanted a total of $50,000 for the project to remove palm trees. He also said he wanted to make sure he could make the best beach possible.
“I want to create something nice down there,” he said. “You don’t want to put in a two by six breaker, we want to do something nice.”
Funding was unanimously approved by the board but some thought the project was missing some pieces, including shade.
Chairman Don Heisler said this was merely “phase one” and that other improvements could be made down the line, including more shade and a kayak launch.
“This is the beginning of a new partnership with the parks and recreation department,” Heisler said. “This park is one of our great assets down here and it’s going to be a work in progress for a while.”