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Sarasota News Leader October 4, 2013 Page 32 Additional regular parking spaces should be completed before the next July Fourth, Gaubatz said, adding that the worst-case scenario he foresaw would leave the site with the same number of spots it has now. However, Magee pointed out that the area where the Chamber has staged its July Fourth festivities in the past would not be available, based on the diagrams Gaubatz had shown. That staging area is an open field near the picnic shelter and restrooms on the east side of the park. "[Russo] is committed to doing everything he can to coordinate [with groups holding special events]," Gaubatz pointed out. THE INFORMAL BEACH PATH Among questions staff has fielded about the project, Gaubatz continued, one that has generated "a lot of discussion" has been the disappearance of the trail that wound to the park through a wooded area next to the Beach Road fire station. Once the stormwater project has been completed, he said, staff anticipates the 20-foot-wide easement adjacent to the retention pond will provide ample room for people to create a new, similar path to the park. Sarasota County Parks and Recreation Department Director Carolyn Brown explains aspects of the planned Siesta Public Beach improvements. Photo by Rachel Hackney people have learned to ignore them and drive on into the park. Brown said she would investigate who was responsible for putting the signs in place. "We're not broadcasting this as the actual Sgt. Steve Leavitt of the Sarasota County path … [but] people, being people, will prob- Sheriff's Office told the SKVA group that his deputies do not handle that assignment. ably make that a trail …" "It seems pretty sensible to put sensors in," Parr continued, noting that such equipment Paul Parr, owner of Siesta Sunset Royale — is used in many large public parking lots to who lived across from the public beach until transmit information to electronic signs indijust recently — had a question about the signs cating how many spaces are open. put up to warn people when the beach parkGaubatz responded that conduit would be run ing lots are full. to all the park entrances. While use of sensors Even when the lots clear out at the end of a is not part of the current planning, he added, busy day, he pointed out, the signs stay up, so "we'll have that capability in the future." % THE PARKING LOT SIGNS