By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

            A 3.2-acre wooded, grassy lot next to historic Coulter Cemetery in Bronson and directly opposite the Levy County Government Center could be the site of a new community park with a concert stage, but there is opposition.

            Architect and park planner Elizabeth Manley of Kimley-Horn proposed two concepts, one being a park with a pavilion for concerts and entertainment, plus trails and picnic areas, but the other concept envisions a larger playground in place of the pavilion, with the same trails and picnic areas.

            “Things are still very draft. That’s why we’re here seeking input,” Manley told Levy County Commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting.

            Commissioners took her suggestions under advisement and indicated they wanted more information on costs, available grants, and to hold an open house and workshop at the site to gather community input.

            Toni Collins, president of the Levy County Historical Society and the Levy County Cemetery Association, told Levy County Commissioners she is opposed to developing a community park on property adjoining the cemetery.

            She said vandals have already trashed the cemetery recently with paint-marked tarps laid across monuments, and four empty whiskey bottles and six discarded coffee cups left behind.

            “I am here today asking you to respect the historic significance of the Coulter Cemetery and relocate the “community park” elsewhere,” she said. Collins suggested the old Bronson High School football stadium area in the same neighborhood.

            Coulter Cemetery, formerly known as Old Bronson Cemetery, is one of the oldest cemeteries in Levy County. Although the first burial was in 1866, the cemetery was created in 1872 when William R. Coulter, Sr. and his wife, Lydia deeded land for the Levy County Courthouse, and for the nearby cemetery, Bronson Methodist Church, and former Bronson School, which is now being used as the Levy County Government Center.

            Many of Levy County’s pioneer settlers and their families are buried in the cemetery including Dr. James M. Jackson and his wife, Mary (Shands) Jackson, who are the parents of Dr. James M. Jackson, Jr. for whom Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami is named; Dr. William A. Shands; Judge and Rev. Joseph Sale and his wife, Annie (Coulter) Sale; Judge Benjamin Friedman, Levy County’s longest seated county court judge; and many more, according to Collins.

            Manley said she consulted with County Coordinator Wilbur Dean and Procurement Coordinator Alicia Tretheway on developing concepts for the park before making her presentation to the board.

            She said the overall concept of the park would be to provide open space, a playground, walking trails, events at the park site, and a strong connection to the government center itself across School Street from the park.

            The biggest difference between the two concepts presented to the board was that the event-oriented park would have a stage pavilion for performances including concerts as opposed to the strictly community park which would have a larger playground in place of the stage.

            She said a landscape barrier would be planted along the fence that separates the cemetery from the future Levy County Park. When Commissioner Tim Hodge suggested possibly building a fence to provide more separation between the park and cemetery, Manley said it wouldn’t be a problem. Hodge was also worried about funerals conflicting with events at the park, but Dean said he doubted that would be a problem.

            “I haven’t seen a burial in my lifetime,” said Dean, a lifetime resident of the Bronson area.

            “Our understanding is it is a historic cemetery, a lot of great history, but not active burials,” Manley said. “Still, meaning to be respectful and proposing a landscape buffer, but if screen fencing is needed, we can certainly get it.”

            Commissioner Desiree Mills said she loved the concept, but she favored delaying construction of the park because the county commission is still involved in rehabilitating the Levy County Government Center to make room for more county offices. She said they could go back to development of the park when they are a little further along with the government center.

            Commission Chairman Matt Brooks agreed with Mills regarding the ongoing work on the government center, but he also liked the concept and is looking forward to what the community has to say about the proposed park.

            Commissioner John Meeks said there is a need for a public workshop where local folks and property owners can comment on the two park concepts discussed by Manley. Meeks said he was a little disappointed that no one thought to consult the county’s tourism development agency for input on the park. He said he also would like to get a cost estimate on the park and do research on what grants may be available.

            He said his idea would be to proceed with the first project discussed by Manley, the community park with a stage area, getting cost estimates, holding a public meeting, and getting input from neighbors.

            “Obviously if we’re going to have things like concerts, that’s going to be more disruptive to the neighbors than just a playground, but the way the schematics are laid out I think a lot of the sound would be absorbed, and actually be sent toward the government center and courthouse that would typically be unoccupied during concerts. But I am interested in getting community input,” Meeks said.

            Meeks said he would hate to see that property go to waste and stand vacant. He said his understanding is that the property is a maintenance nightmare. He said maintenance is going to continue to be an issue when things are put on the property.

            “But I think it could be an asset to the property and the community and it would be something that would be available countywide,” he said.

            Manley was asked if the four cedar trees on the property would be preserved along with the towering live oaks. She said the plan is the cut down the cedar trees to make room for additional parking, but she said the plan could be changed to preserve them. She said there would be less area for new parking if the trees remained.

            “They are very old. As cedar gets older, they tend to break apart. We’re seeing some of that. We can look into that. It is a property of the community but it may be a reduction of proposed parking if those trees remain. It’s not bad, but we’ll have to deal with it,” Manley said.

            Cedar trees are among the longest-living trees on the planet, sometimes reaching hundreds of years in age. They have been known to live for 800 years, according to the Embrace Gardening website.

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Board of County Commission Regular Meeting August 22, 2023; Posted August 27, 2023