The Pasco County Commission has approved an agreement that will provide public access to J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park from the Starkey Ranch residential community, next door.
The park, at 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd., is owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District and managed by Pasco County. People across the county visit the park for its recreational opportunities and beauty.
The action taken by the county board allows TSR CDD, the owner of the Starkey Ranch residential development next to the park, to provide recreational access to the general public at two access points.
At the access points, TSR CDD will construct gates, and provide informational signs with park hours, a map, and allowed uses.
It also will maintain liability insurance and assume all risks related to use of the access points, according to the agreement.
Also, at one of the access points, TSR CDD will construct a foot bridge crossing over the South Branch of the Anclote River.
The agreement also calls for TSR CDD to pay for engineering and construction as well as for future maintenance, repair and/or replacement of the foot bridge, subject to approval by the county and the Southwest Florida Management District.
Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey said efforts to create these access points began a long time ago and she’s happy that people will finally be able to get access the lower portion of the park.
Published May 25, 2022
