State down on Surf's Up

ouriel@sanduskyregister.comA state agency slammed Sandusky officials for reneging on a federal grant that paid to build the former Surf's Up property.The Ohio Department of Natural Resources recently sent Sandusky a highly critical letter, indicating the local government breached a 1978 agreement.After receiving $350,000 in federal funds back then to construct the now-defunct Battery Park Aquatic Complex — where Surf's Up, the former wave-action pool operated — the city was required to keep the space open for public use. But it hasn't, according to Mary Fitch, the state department's recreation services administrator.Almost 12 years after Surf's Up closed, the dilapidated pool, often today filled with soggy leaves and trash, has remained off-limits for public use ever since shutting down.So not only does the pool pose a severe safety hazard — people can easily fall into the empty area that's not barricaded — it's also exploiting tax dollars, Fitch wrote."The existing situation is unacceptable and against federal (grant) regulations," Fitch wrote in a letter the Register obtained through a public records request. "Nearly 20 percent of the footprint of (the) federally funded park is currently closed to the public."Fitch offered several solutions for Sandusky to fix this problem."In order to bring the project back into compliance with the federal program, the pool must be reopened, repurposed for a public recreation use or removed," Fitch wrote. "Even if long-range public recreational planning for the site is incomplete, these closed park areas must be returned to some type of available public outdoor recreation use as soon as possible."Sandusky chief planner Angie Byington said the city has already responded in some regard.In November, city officials began pursuing grant opportunities to rejuvenate underused waterfront land, including in and around Surf's Up.Bowling Green State University and BGSU Firelands administrators also expressed interest in creating research and other educational opportunities at the Sandusky Bay Pavilion, which includes Surf's Up."The city will be completing an assessment of the viability and associated cost of reopening the wave pool," Byington wrote back in a separate letter the Register also acquired. "The city will be obtaining the cost of filling in the existing pool to allow for public access on the existing footprint. The city intends for the evaluation and cost estimate to be complete by March 1."Other park problemsIn their letter to Sandusky officials, Ohio Department of Natural Resources workers also raised additional concerns regarding issues at the Sandusky Bay Pavilion, receiving $350,000 in federal grant money in 1978, and Lions Park, receiving $70,000 in grant money in 2011:Problem No. 1: Property issues at Lions Park• A home, or private property, is partially located within Lions Park, a public property.• Two "no boundary" signs are located on Lions Park property, restricting public access in certain areas.City solution: Sandusky officials are researching exactly who owns what parcels within the park. Officials are also determining who put the signs up.Problem No. 2: Overhead utility lines are not permitted within Lions Park."At the time of (a grant application), the city of Sandusky indicated that there were no overhead utilities, yet many were observed during a (recent) visit," according to the state agency.City solution: Officials are trying to figure out if the utility lines were built before submitting a grant application.Problem No. 3: No sign posted at Lions Park acknowledging park upgrades occurred after receiving a state grant.City solution: Officials will purchase a sign and install it by Feb. 1.Problem No. 4: A sign posted at Battery Park Aquatic Complex, within the Sandusky Bay Pavilion, is placed in the wrong location.City solution: Officials will relocate the sign in proper place by Jan. 1.Register photo/LUKE WARK The former Surf's Up property in downtown Sandusky has recently come under scrutiny from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The ODNR claims the city of Sandusky has breached an agreement made in 1978 to keep the space open for public use. Register photo/ANGELA WILHELM The former Surf's Up property in downtown Sandusky has recently come under scrutiny from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The ODNR claims the city of Sandusky has breached an agreement made in 1978 to keep the space open for public use. Register photo/LUKE WARK The former Surf's Up property in downtown Sandusky has recently come under scrutiny from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. The ODNR claims the city of Sandusky has breached an agreement made in 1978 to keep the space open for public use.