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Suncoast Pinellas News

Joyous Victory

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SHARON PHILYAW

Published: May 10, 2008

Editor:

Clearwater and the Pinellas School District decided 19 months ago to swap land so the district could build a school bus terminal and maintenance facility on the land behind Briar Creek and neighboring subdivisions north of S.R. 580 and east of McMullen Booth Road. Residents of those areas went to work to stop it.

We took our battle to the news media. Nine subdivisions, the Safety Harbor City Council, environmental groups and people from around North Pinellas joined us. We gathered more than 2,000 petition signatures and conducted talks and tours on the how the bus facility would destroy green space and affect the community.

In the end it was the School District budget that was the final straw that stopped this facility from being built. We honestly felt, however, we had the necessary no votes to stop this if it had gone to a vote.

The seven ladies of the School Board were amazing. Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said we had been "relentless" in our opposition to the bus terminal plan but always respectful.

Now is the time to protect this vital green space, which has the county's only waterfall. Perhaps it could become part of North Clearwater Park.

This was a humbling and joyous experience.

Sharon Philyaw
Safety Harbor

The writer is chairwoman of the No Bus Committee.

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