Stuart’s leaders mull green space spending

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STUART — City leaders have ideas for using some $1.5 million a year from Martin County's new half-percent sales tax passed by voters in November.

Officials laid out some of those plans to the City Commission May 27. Other jurisdictions in the county also will receive part of the tax revenue.

"Martin County residents are always eager to take advantage of the opportunity to buy and create more green space," Mayor Campbell Rich said. "We're really lucky that we all share that commitment."

The money is coming from the sales tax proposed by Martin County Forever, a group spearheaded by former Mayor Merritt Matheson and Jim Snedeker.

Countywide, the tax could raise $183 million for all governments over 10 years. The county's portion must be used to buy conservation land or easements, which keeps developers hands' off the land forever.

Stuart's use of the money

Stuart, Rich said, has little land left to buy.

"Nonetheless, we would like to make sure we spend the money in a manner that goes along with the intent of that (half percent) sales tax," he said.

One such opportunity is along Haney Creek, where land may be available for purchase.

Haney Creek Park Nature Trails & Dog Park, 391 N.W. Baker Road, in Stuart, shown here Feb. 21, 2025, features a trail system for hiking and jogging as well as dog parks.

"Though the city is not bound to the county's referendum language, the city should look for available land to purchase for green space and improve its existing parks and green space to be accessible for residents," Vice Mayor Christopher Collins said.

Haney Creek

Land near Haney Creek is one area Rich and Collins see as ripe for purchase.

Up until the last election cycle, 2 acres at Haney Creek was to become a car wash or fast-food restaurant, Collins said.

"It should be established as a park and parking trailhead for the west side of Haney Creek that potentially includes a playground for families," he said.

Other uses in Stuart

Another opportunity is an area connected to the Poppleton Creek Dog Park, Rich said.

"There's over 50 acres there that really is underutilized," he said.

Stuart also may use some of the money for storm water projects and/or to clean up creeks such as Frazier Creek, which people have used as a "dump," Rich said.

Cleaner creeks would provide more "opportunities for people to recreate on these smaller waterways," Rich said.

The expected money also could be used to improve city parks, which are expensive to maintain, he said.

The City Commission will make decisions on exactly how to spend the money, the mayor said. Those decisions will be part of the budget process, which will begin soon, he said.

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Use by other municipalities

"At this point, the town (of Ocean Breeze) is monitoring the tax to develop a good estimate of probable income," said Dan Hudson, management consultant for the town. "The Town Council will discuss possible uses this summer in conjunction with its budget deliberations."

Jupiter Island is waiting until it accumulates enough monthly proceeds before bringing the matter before its commissioners to receive feedback on an appropriate project.

In Indiantown, the proceeds must be used for infrastructure, said Village Manager Taryn Kryzda.

"We are in the process of developing our capital improvement plan – and will factor that revenue into projects as deemed appropriate," Kryzda said. "We also are interested in acquiring some additional property, so they would be used toward that if necessary."

Sewall's Point did not respond to a request for comment.

Keith Burbank is TCPalm's watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com or at 720-288-6882.

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