Jupiter considers Indian Creek Park, Intracoastal site for town fire-rescue stations

JUPITER — Town officials are considering Indian Creek Park and a site north of Harbourside Place as the locations of the two fire stations Jupiter expects to build before its department begins service in 2026.

Jupiter officials presented renderings of the station sites at a “Connect With Council Over Coffee” event at Crux Coffee Roasters in Abacoa on Dec. 8.

Officials said council members will review the site plans for the two fire stations and contracts for design, engineering and construction during a council meeting in January. The council is scheduled to meet Jan. 2 and Jan. 16.

Jupiter is expected to retain Fire Rescue Station 16, on Military Trail in Abacoa, once the town ends its 40-year relationship with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.

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Creating fire-rescue department has become contentious issue in Jupiter

Proposing sites for the fire stations is the latest step in what has become a contentious process of creating a town fire-rescue department.The council voted Aug. 15 to break with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, citing concerns over rising costs and saying it wanted more control over the services it receives and the way its tax dollars are spent.

Launching a town department carries start-up costs of more than $60 million for equipment, fire stations and other items, but council members who supported the move expect it to save the town millions of dollars over time.

Leading the opposition to a new department is a political-action committee affiliated with Local 2928 of the International Association of Firefighters, which represents Palm Beach County firefighters and paramedics. It is seeking to have residents vote on the issue in March and has taken the town to circuit court over its refusal to do so.

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Indian Creek site would put fire station on Central Boulevard

Developed in the 1980s, Indian Creek Park covers 11 acres along Central Boulevard south of Indiantown Road. It has long been known as the “Imagination Station” park for one of its play areas. Surrounding it is the Indian Creek development, which includes hundreds of condominiums, villas and single-family homes.

The town’s rendering shown at the Dec. 8 gathering indicates the station would sit where the existing parking lot is, with entrance and exit lanes on Central, a four-lane road that intersects with Indiantown and Donald Ross roads and, through Indian Creek Parkway, with Military Trail.

A new parking lot would be built next to the playground, with an entrance and exit along Indian Creek Drive East. A fire station-themed toddler play area would be added at the park, and the existing playground and volleyball and basketball courts would stay in place.

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Piatt Place site would give Jupiter fire-rescue station near beaches

The other fire station would be built at Piatt Place, a 5-acre plot of land along U.S. 1 that the town acquired in the 1990s, north of Harbourside Place on the Intracoastal Waterway. Along with the fire station, a shaded sitting area, a walking path and a kayak launch would be added to the property.

Locals call Piatt Place “the dungeons” because of an underground parking garage that sits empty at the site.

Jupiter may not need to build a station near the beach if it can persuade Palm Beach County either to sell or lease Station 18, which sits near Burt Reynolds Park. Town Manager Frank Kitzerow asked Patrick Kennedy, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue administrator, to do so this fall. In a letter last month, Kennedy declined.

“The sudden cancellation of the contract and sudden installation of a fire rescue plan inclusive of a rather comprehensive media campaign are both curious and disheartening,” Kennedy’s letter read. He said he was eager to resume discussions about continuing his agency’s relationship with Jupiter, a move the Town Council has shown no interest in making.

Mayor Jim Kuretski has said that although Jupiter was unsuccessful in its attempt, it has three years to “bring closure” on the issue.

Maya Washburn covers northern Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida-Network. Reach her at mwashburn@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Where will Jupiter build fire-rescue stations? Town eyes two sites