Florida Communities Trust (FCT) requires Palmetto Bay to change its operation of Thalatta Park – This is good news for area residents

I have received a copy of the letter from Jerry Taber of the Florida Communities Trust (FCT) to the Palmetto Bay Parks Director.  (Click on 'Read more' below to view the two page letter).

This confirms what many of us have said for so long – Thalatta Estate is to be a Park open to the people first. CLICK HERE to see my prior postings on Thalatta.  Grant Miller of the Palmetto Bay News: It’s wrong to open Thalatta only to the highest bidder.

It is sad that official action from the Florida Communities Trust is required to force Palmetto Bay’s hand in following the commitments I made in order to obtain the $3.6 million in funding to purchase and preserve this outstanding bayfront park. The current Mayor, council and staff were warned many times.  Numerous requests from the public continued to fall upon deaf ears.

Thank you Florida Communities Trust for holding Palmetto Bay officials to the commitments made. Area residents now have guaranteed greater access to enjoy our bay, putting, as I stated about Thalatta, “The ‘Bay’ back in “Palmetto Bay.”’

Note that the village can have some runoff on their existing rentals, but going forward, it may no longer close the park for exclusive private events.

Palmetto Bay must also follow up on the educational and museum commitments and it appears that the FCT will be following up (setting up a timeline for completion?) in order make sure this commitment is not forgotten.

The village website must also be changed to properly reflect that this park is a park first, moving the wedding events as a secondary function.  This clarifies the intent of the FCT grant – this is preserved land, public access park first.

In short, the public (us) can no longer be shut out from our park.  Palmetto Bay officials must keep their commitments made.