Manatee County bocce players ask county for new shade tents

EAST MANATEE -- As local senior citizens took to the bocce courts Friday morning at John Marble Park, the sun was beating down and temperature was in the 60s for the 27th Annual Gulf Coast Senior Games.

Despite the cooler weather, the seniors sat between games under a shade tent located in the middle of the two bocce courts, the only in Manatee County.

But with the warmer temperature of the summer months only a few months away, the residents, who play bocce at the courts every Wednesday and Sunday morning, are concerned with the lack of shade protecting them from the Florida heat.

Up until a few years ago, trees on the west side of the bocce courts provided natural shade for the seniors, who all but one are full-time Manatee County residents. Af

ter the trees were trimmed, Manatee County agreed to buy tents, which are now beyond repair, said 75-year-old Richard Breem.

"You can't do it without some sort of a shade," Breem said. "We are literally soaked in the summertime and everyone still wants to play."

The local bocce players, who say they aren't a league but more like a pick-up game, have been asking the county for new shade tents, Breem said, adding the tents would at most cost $300.

"It is not the dollar amount. We could take a donation from everyone," Breem said. "The county isn't upholding their responsibility of maintaining county parks. ... It's the principle at this point. Where does the county's responsibility end? We had everything we needed with this hammock. It all started with the removal of the tree shade. They are the one that created the issue, and the solution is really the tents."

The county removed the large tree limbs about three years ago "because players asked for cleaner courts and for safety since older, larger limbs regularly fell in the area," said Nick Azzara, Manatee County spokesman.

In regard to new shade tents, there are dozen of leagues that host their events at county park facilities, and staff can't make a special exception to a policy, Azzara said.

"By the time it was elevated to the directors' level, I think they were prepared to make the situation right during the tournament," Azzara said. "Unfortunately, it was too late to take that action."

For the county to put in shade structures at all the county parks and fields, it would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, Azzara said.

"I expect in the future when there are future events and special tournaments going on, we will work with that league to accommodate them, if we are able to," he said.

In an email sent to the bocce players on Feb. 11, Carmine DeMilio, the county's operations manager in the property management department, wrote "the shade tents would not be replaced and would likely need to come down, if found unsafe. Our staff attempted to repair the shade tents but we both agree some may be beyond repair. We will remove the shade tents that are unsafe."

With the low cost associated with new shade tents, the bocce players questioned why barbed wire was added to the fence on the west side of the courts, which was probably more costly than the money necessary for the new tents, Breem said.

The barbed wire "doesn't enhance our play," he said. "It doesn't help us out."

Recently, one of the three shade tents at the bocce courts was removed as it was deemed unsafe by the county. The other two tents "are almost safety hazards," Breem said.

Peter Schneder, who began playing bocce ball around 2004, said all they are asking the county for is about $300 for new shade tents.

"As you can see it is fine now, but in the summer, it is brutal," the 74-year-old said. "They tell us they don't have any money but they added the barbed wire."

Over the years, Manatee County has been extremely helpful for the senior citizens, said Tom Mazzone, 87, who helped build the original court at Marble Park.

"Only recently, we found out that they don't have the funds," Mazzone said. "We have to get under the shade. It's too hot for us."

For Mazzone, bocce ball means sociability and camaraderie.

"I can't talk enough about these guys," he said. "There isn't a guy in here I don't like. It is something good that the county considers senior citizens. I'm just glad people are using the courts."

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published February 19, 2016 at 11:46 PM with the headline "Manatee County bocce players ask county for new shade tents ."