Mike Camunas

Sisters headed to same college

February 14, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Wesley Chapel senior standout volleyball player Chloe Danielson is headed to Catawba College in North Carolina after signing a letter of intent on Feb. 1 to play for the Division 2 university.

Joining her there will be her sister, former Wildcat Jordan Danielson, who just finished her sophomore season with Daytona State.

Chloe helped lead the Wildcats to their first state tournament appearance since 2003, as the team was one of four teams in the Class 5A tournament in November.

Chloe finished her career with 1,031 kills, including a team-high 241 this season and a school-record 375 in her junior season.

Jordan, who had a career 553 kills at Wesley Chapel, finished this past season with 118 kills for the Falcons (13-7).

Lutz swimmer earns top honors

February 14, 2023 By Mike Camunas

From left: Steinbrenner principal Tiffany Ewell, Jayden Repak and Warriors athletic director Dennis Derflinger. (Courtesy of Chris Repak)

Jayden Repak, a 16-year-old junior at Steinbrenner High, was awarded the Henry Hick Memorial Award for Outstanding Male Swimmer of the Year, in January.

Repak, who has qualified for the Class 4A state swim meet in all three high school seasons, served as a team captain and was district champion in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke this season. At the state meet, he broke the school records in these events and was awarded the Male High Point winner for the Warrior’s swim team.

Repak, a Lutz native, grew up swimming and wakeboarding on nearby Lake Brant. He also was a member of the Steinbrenner 400 freestyle relay team that broke the school record his freshman year.

Additionally, the Steinbrenner boys golf and football teams were awarded the Hillsborough County Schools Highest Team Grade Point Average Award for those sports.

Love serving little ones a tennis program

February 7, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Ryan O’Connor was a preemie.

He required lots of physical therapy due to hypertonia: a condition of too much muscle tone, making arms or legs stiff and hard to move.

Sophomore Ryan O’Connor gives a lob to a young tennis player during a session of Adaptive Tennis, a program he started at Land O’ Lakes High School. (Mike Camunas)

The Land O’ Lakes High sophomore International Baccalaureate (IB) student also took up youth tennis, which, in turn, helped him develop his muscles “where they needed to be.”

Now, O’Connor has turned his childhood adversity, and training, into a passion project that has been endorsed both by his school and the United States Tennis Association (USTA).

O’Connor created Tennis Starts With Love, an after-school adaptive program for children 10 or younger, which provides equipment and drills to work on hand-eye coordination, balance, dexterity or foot coordination issues.

All of this comes at no cost to the parents.

“This has been a passion project of mine,” said O’Connor, who is the No. 2 seed on the Gators boys tennis team. “I always wanted to bring my training in tennis to a place where I could make a difference. I worked on this proposal for almost a year and through the generosity of the USTA and my school’s blessing, this program finally has come together.

“I think, over time, it will definitely become more organized, but it is getting better each and every time we come out and run around and work on drills.”

Maxim Cohen, a 5-year-old from Land O’ Lakes, prepares to return a volley during a session of Adaptive Tennis at Land O’ Lakes High School. On Friday afternoons, Land O’ Lakes sophomore Ryan O’Conner, with the help of a few volunteer friends, leads less than 10 tennis players, ages 10 or younger, through drills to help them work on hand-eye coordination, balance, dexterity or foot coordination issues. It was a passion project of O’Connor, a sophomore tennis player for the Gators, and thanks to a generous donation and backing from the United States Tennis Association, he provides the program for free.

The program started in November and has had great success so far. O’Connor and other volunteers work with about a half-dozen players at the weekly, hourlong training session held Fridays at the courts on campus.

The kids run through warm-up and ball drills before putting in their hands the racquets provided by the USTA.

Parents watch from mini-bleachers as their kids overcome apprehensiveness and take to the physical activity and tennis instructions.

“He loves it,” said Rhona Fox, a Land O’ Lakes, whose 5-year-old son, Maxim Cohen, takes part in the program. “He’s home-schooled and starts kindergarten in August, so we’re using it as an opportunity to see what he likes — soccer, baseball, swimming, and now it’s tennis, which we love, too, because it’s ongoing. We’ll plan to be here as long as the coach keeps doing it.”

O’Connor noted: “We’re just trying to teach the coordination and dexterity of it all while incorporating a little bit of tennis. We go very slowly, step by step and then move forward with tennis. I really just want to focus on coordination and I know tennis will come to them.”

O’Connor said the program will run through the school year (end of May), and will accept more kids, but no more than eight to 10 because of his limited help. The program welcomes more volunteers.

The kids, however, are loving Tennis Starts With Love.

Alex Hackney, 4, of Land O’ Lakes, isn’t razzing the tennis ball, but gearing up to make a big return over the net during a session of Adaptive Tennis at Land O’ Lakes High School.

“It’s fun to be able to do this,” said player Merina Paulson, a 9-year-old from Lutz. “I like being out there and playing and then we can hit the ball. That’s been a lot of fun.”

“I’ve learned how to hit the ball and get it over the net,” her brother, J.D., 6, added. “And, when I did (hit) it, it went over the net and that was pretty cool.”

The parents see their kids’ desire for the program.

“(This is) pretty much the only thing he gets in the car for, (laughs),” Fox said. “Usually, we have to chase him around, but he is always ready to come to tennis.

“It’s incredibly fulfilling to see him play this sport and also be with other kids.”

In the end, nothing makes a passionate project more worthwhile than, well, the passion for it.

“They are very passionate about it,” O’Connor said. “Tennis is an expensive sport and there are not many programs that are taking on younger children who might benefit from the muscular movements involved with tennis.

“So, when parents say that when Friday comes and their kids are very excited to come here, that’s, obviously, something that makes us very excited.”

Tennis Starts With Love Adaptive Program
When: Fridays, 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Land O’ Lakes High, 20325 Gator Lane
Cost: Free
Details: A weekly, hourlong tennis program that benefits children, ages 10 or younger, by providing equipment and drills to work on hand-eye coordination, balance, dexterity or foot coordination issues. The program will run through the rest of the school year (end of May) and has a few openings available. Volunteers to help coach are welcome, too.
Info: Contact Ryan O’Connor at or 813-997-4613.

Published February 08, 2023

Merina Paulson, 9, of Lutz, works on her returns of soft volleys while working hard during the Adaptive Tennis Program at Land O’ Lakes High.

Land O’ Lakes High freshman Haily Salas works with 6-year-old J.D. Paulson during an hourlong Adaptive Tennis session.

Violet Swift, 7, of Land O’ Lakes, drives forward to return a volley during Adaptive Tennis.

Parents happily and proudly watch from the small stands at the tennis courts at Land O’ Lakes High School, as their kids run drills during Adaptive Tennis, which is after school on Fridays.

Local track star shines

February 7, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Former Zephyrhills Christian track star Evan Miller kicked off his final season at the University of South Carolina in dominant fashion, setting a national record for the men’s indoor 400-meter with a time of 45.91.

At the Gamecock Opening on Jan. 14, Miller also ran a 200-meter in 20.76 and earned Co-Runner of the Week for the SEC (Southeastern Conference) Honors announced on Jan. 17.

Miller is now ranked second in the country in the 400-meter and seventh in the 200-meter.

Miller, who won the Class 1A crown 100-meter dash (10.75) at the 2018 FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Track & Field Championships and was a member of the school’s medalist 4×100 relay team that won back-to-back state crowns in 2017 and 2018, opted to an additional year athletes were granted because of a season missed due to COVID.

Former hockey players join staff

February 7, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Tampa Bay Crunch, a travel hockey team based out of AdventHealth Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, announced former Tampa Bay Lightning players Vinny Prospal and Braydon Coburn will join its Spring Travel Training Coaching Staff.

Prospal, drafted in 1993 by the Philadelphia Flyers, played over 1,100 games in the National Hockey League (NHL) and will bring international coaching experience to the 14U Spring training program.

Coburn will be instructing in the 12U Spring training program. He was drafted in 2003 by the Atlanta Thrashers, played over 900 NHL games and is an assistant coach with the U12 Crunch Girls team.

Zephyrhills’ rebranding begins to take shape

February 7, 2023 By Mike Camunas

The City of Zephyrhills is getting ready to tell its story.

It’s all part of the rebranding process that Pasco County’s largest municipality is undergoing — one that will carry the town into the future, and will provide a more complete picture.

Zephyrhills, in conjunction with North Star Place Branding + Marketing, a Jacksonville-based consulting firm, has finished its community research, which is aiding in the town’s rebranding efforts.

Data has been collected from 1,486 unique inputs, including nearly 1,000 online surveys, focus groups and interviews. The firm will use the feedback to develop options that include a new town logo, motto, color schemes and other elements to to rebrand Zephyrhills.

The City of Zephyrhills, Pasco County’s largest municipality, is undergoing a complete rebranding of the town, from its slogan, to logo and more, with the help of North Star Place Branding + Marketing. (Mike Camunas)

“We were very happy we got this much feedback,” said Patrick Golden, executive creative director for North Star. “Sometimes communities can be survey fatigued, but we got a lot of responses, and getting input from the community in this type of venture is very important.

“We’ve seen a lot of passion in the people, and that’s very indicative of the city and what the city brings to its people and always has brought to its people. That’s just going to help when it comes to finding the brand of the city.”

That passion was on display when Zephyrhills and North Star hosted a Community Creative Input Open House on Feb. 1, allowing for about a couple dozen citizens and stakeholders to offer their opinions.

Those present brought up views and themes consistent with the data collected, from keeping the same ‘town fee’ to remembering and honoring the town’s history and veterans. They also want the town to be known for more than being where the bottled water comes from, its skydiving, and, of course, being “Snowbird Central.”

“The passion (we’ve seen) is what is going to make the brand the best it can be,” City Manager Billy Poe said. “Trust me, the comments we have gotten, not all of them have been positive — and we’ll address the negative ones.

“People just walk up to me, and say, ‘Why are you spending so much money on this (rebranding)? Why are you spending any money at all on this? What’s wrong with the logo we have? This is where the water comes from, what’s wrong with that?

“And it’s not to get rid of the water logo or get rid of the skydiving component. We feel we’re more than one thing, and we want to tell our story before someone can tell it for us and then not get it right.”

Indeed, rebranding the city, Golden added, is not about doing away with what Zephyrhills already has, but refining the story and finding a cohesive one. The story will encapsulate the town as it moves forward and looks to soon surpass a population of 20,000.

“People are usually excited, not just to see what we come up with, but what everyone said their community is about and how everyone sees their city, from the outside,” Golden added.

The City of Zephyrhills and North Star Place Branding + Marketing had a Community Creative Input Open House on Feb. 1 — welcoming those in attendance to share their thoughts about their town with the rebranding firm’s representatives.

The city and the rebranding firm launched a community-wide online survey on Oct. 17, giving everyone in Zephyrhills a place where they can share their input and have their perspective counted.

The survey asks several questions, including how one would describe Zephyrhills, how others perceive Zephyrhills and even to name some things that people outside the community should know about the city.

In the survey, participants were asked to pick two descriptors of Zephyrhills. The top two chosen were “Snowbird destination, older residents,” which accounted for 43% of the answers, while “Where growth is headed” came in at 27%. Another category, “neighborly, hometown feel” came in at 23%.

The data also showed Zephyrhills greatest assets, with the top responses being the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center, Main Street, Skydive City, the city’s many parks, the municipal airport and the proximity to Tampa and Orlando.

The $68,000 rebranding project now moves to the creative phase, as North Star’s team will produce options to present to the city, tentatively in about five months.

Zephyrhills, currently known as “The City of Pure Water,” will then choose a new brand aimed at increasing interest and investment in its residents, entrepreneurs, companies and visitors.

“We are a small town, but what we’re trying to do is grow and maintain that small-town feel — that’s important because if you lose your downtown, where’s your center of community?” Poe said. “I think the story of Zephyrhills is that we’re an emerging community that’s always been known as the ‘Snowbird Capital’ and I think we’re so much more than that.

“Yes, we have the water (bottling plant), we have the skydiving, but Zephyrhills is a very open-minded community that is always trying to better the lives of its citizens.”

Published February 08, 2023

Celebrating a half-century of caring

February 7, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Even though he’s a well-spoken politician, Wilton Simpson was at a loss for words.

“It was very … surprising,” the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture said. “This is all so … humbling.”

From left: Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley, CARES CEO Jemith Rosa, Pasco County Commissioner Gary Bradford, Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles and Dade City Commissioner Ann Cosentino take part in the ceremonial groundbreaking of the CARES Wilton Simpson Senior Center in Dade City. The new 6,000-square-foot senior center will replace the current senior center on Fourth Street, on land donated by Simpson. (Mike Camunas)

The Trilby resident, and former state senator, was in awe that the new CARES (Community Aging and Retirement Services) senior center coming to Dade City in 2024 will be named in his honor.

It made sense to name it the CARES Wilton Simpson Senior Center, since he can be credited with making it happen.

“I had to name it after him,” said Jemith Rosa, CEO of CARES. “It wouldn’t have happened without Mr. Simpson.”

About two years ago, when Simpson was still Senate president for the Florida Legislation, Rosa initially came to him looking for state funding for a new senior center. She was asking for $1.5 million to help build the $2 million, 6,000-square-foot facility, which will provide a one-stop senior facility with an adult day care facility for 60, multi-purpose, senior enrichment and recreation areas and administrative offices.

However, Rosa needed more and never expected Simpson to provide it.

“Well,” Simpson recalled, “Jemith visited me and said they wanted to build a new facility, and I’m familiar with the current one as I’ve lived here all my life. She said now she needed land, too.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson addresses the small crowd that gathered on Jan. 31 to see the groundbreaking of the CARES Wilton Simpson Senior Center, which will be on 1.7 acres of land Simpson donated.

“And I was like, ‘Well, I’ve got some land right across the road from your building.’”

“It never dawned on me that this property was his, even though he has a lot of land in Dade City,” Rosa added. “I had about three minutes with him and asked him for the $1.5 million to build the facility. He said, ‘Jemith, I owe the land right behind (the CARES) building (on Fifth Street) – do you want it?’

“And we shook hands — done deal. Fastest deal I have ever made in my life.”

Fast forward about two years and Simpson, Rosa, city and county officials, and CARES board members all ceremoniously broke ground for the new facility on Fourth Street on Jan. 30.

The nonprofit organization has helped older adults stay at home, independent, connected and informed through health, social and support services for the past 50 years.

Ryman Construction will start work soon, with Rosa hoping for a grand opening of the new facility by late January 2024.

CARES CEO Jemith Rosa says that the CARES Wilton Simpson Senior Center in Dade City wouldn’t have happened without the namesake, Simpson, who not only donated the land where the 6,000-square-foot facility will be built, but also helped to secure $1.5 million in state funding for the project.

“Everyone and every city needs a Wilton Simpson,” Dade City Mayor James Shive said. “Just what he has done for this town and area is truly incredible. He definitely deserves his name on this facility.”

The new facility will double the capacity of seniors in adult day care, from 30 to 60, while CARES will sell off the old building on Fifth Street.

Simpson said the upgrades and additional space that are provided by the new facilities are needed.

“You need this type of facility to make your community complete,” he said. “Especially in Dade City, to handle the volume of seniors. A lot of times these things don’t happen until after the growth happens, when it’s well beyond the need of what the community is projecting.

“We’re very fortunate to get a little ahead of the curve, and this facility is really going to change the quality of life for many families and seniors,” Simpson added.

The CARES Crescent Center, 13906 Fifth St., will be replaced with a new, 6,000-square-foot facility that will have twice as much room for the adult day care program.

“The stars just aligned, and we were able to get it done for this community.”

CARES Wilton Simpson Senior Center
Where: On Fourth Street in Dade City, behind the CARES Crescent Center, which is on Fifth Street.
Details: A 6,000-square-foot center will be built on a 1.7-acre site donated by Wilton Simpson, who is now the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture. The facility will provide a one-stop senior facility with an adult day care facility for 60, multi-purpose, senior enrichment and recreation areas and administrative offices.
CARES (Community Aging and Retirement Services) has been providing services since 1973 to help older adults stay at home, independent, connected and informed through health, social and support services. For more information, visit CARESfl.org.
To receive state-based CARES in-home care services, seniors or caregivers must first apply through the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas at AgingCareFL.org.

Published February 08, 2023

Overpass Road interchange opens at Interstate 75

January 31, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Interstate 75 now has three exits to Wesley Chapel.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced on Jan. 18 that the new interchange with exits to I-75 at Overpass Road in Wesley Chapel were open. The new Overpass Road also now connects Old Pasco Road, all the way east to Handcart Road.

An aerial shot of the new interchange at Overpass Road in Wesley Chapel, which now features a ‘flyover’ ramp for westbound Overpass Road traffic entering southbound Interstate75. (Courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation)

The $64.4-million project began in Feb. 2021, with Overpass being closed completely as construction crews removed the previous two-lane bridge and installed the new four-lane overpass.

Located about halfway between the State Road 54 and State Road 52 interchanges, the new Exit 282 provides an alternative commuting option to area residents, especially those who live in older established communities on Old Pasco Road, as well as newer communities headed east on Overpass, such as Epperson Lagoon and Watergrass.

The interchange includes exit and entrance ramps to both directions of I-75 and features a “flyover” ramp for westbound Overpass Road traffic entering southbound I-75.

Drivers are advised to be alert to new traffic signals that are now active at the ramp intersections with Overpass Road. Workers also will continue to be in the area over the next few weeks completing the project, such as opening both lanes of the flyover and calibrating the digital road signs positioned before the interstate on ramps that give traffic updates.

Additionally, FDOT recently proposed a tentative five-year work program that includes about $433 million worth of roadway improvements in Pasco County.

That figure includes about $258 million worth of projects to expand roadway capacity, but also includes resurfacing, pedestrian and bicycle safety enhancements, and other work, too, according to Jensen Hackett, of FDOT.

One of the many projects in that budget proposal is adding lanes leading from the State Road 56

interchange heading south toward I-75 and toward I-275. When complete, the project will be similar to the lengthy exit from I-75 toward State Road 56. The idea is to make it easier for motorists to get over to I-75 or over to I-275. Right of way acquisition is proposed for fiscal year 2024 and construction for fiscal year 2026.

Published February 01, 2023

Brushing up on a children’s book

January 31, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Kurt Weber fought tooth and nail to finish his children’s book.

While it took nearly a decade to complete and get published, the 63-year-old longtime Lutz resident and dentist knew he wanted to finish writing it before neck surgery in 2016. Even if he did end up rewriting in 2018.

He meticulously drew every illustration on every page.

Tooth Buddy and the Golden Toothbrush by Kurt Weber, DDS, is on display at his St. Petersburg and Seffner practices and available for purchase on Amazon. (Mike Camunas)

“I really just wanted to make Charlie Brown, but as a tooth,” Weber said. “I wanted him to tell a story, I wanted him to have adventures and an interesting life that children will want to read about, and if he teaches us a few lessons along the way, all the better.

“You want a simple message for children and sometimes that’s incredibly difficult to do, but I also feel very strongly that you don’t talk down to children,” he added. “They’re not going to listen to a lecture, but if it’s a cute story, and they see the pictures of him brushing or flossing, that will stick.”

That is how Weber invented his Charlie Brown.

In his book, “Tooth Buddy and the Golden Toothbrush,” Tooth Buddy and his new friend, Dentina Decay, teach lessons not only of the importance of brushing and flossing, but of respect toward others.

“I feel it is a very unique children’s book,” said Weber, who has dental practices in St. Petersburg and Seffner. “I really like the indirect message, but you have to distill down those lessons for oral care and for life to the bare minimum because if you say too much, eyes will glaze over — kids won’t pay attention.

“They’re not going to absorb dentistry if it’s too complicated.”

After years of writing and drawing and discussions with his wife of 39 years, Karen, an administrative medicine physician at James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital in Tampa, Weber’s book was published on Dec. 6, 2022.

Weber, who was an award-winning editorial cartoonist at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and has always been “a doodler” since he was a kid, said both writing and illustrating were quite the task.

When it came to writing, Weber knew he couldn’t be too complicated with story and lessons, even if the book introduces many of the top 250 vocabulary words children need in the book’s 3 to 8-year-old age range.

“There are people in their 80s and terrified of the dentist or adults who are not educated on how to care for their teeth,” he said, “so the importance of teaching these (dental) skills early was my goal.”

As for drawing the illustrations, Weber said each picture, or page — such as the one of Tooth Buddy flossing with the caption, “Tooth Buddy flossed every day to keep cavities away, his breath fresh, and his smile healthy,” — took about 20 hours.

Lutz resident Kurt Weber, DDS proudly displays his book, ‘Tooth Buddy and the Golden Toothbrush,’ at his St. Petersburg practice, where he has been treating patients for more than 30 years. Weber spent nearly a decade writing, and meticulously illustrating, his children’s book featuring Tooth Buddy, who he calls ‘Charlie Brown, but as a tooth.’

“Children’s books are incredibly complicated to look simple,” Weber added.

Which is remarkable since Weber, while a father to his kids, Kurt II and Katarina, isn’t a pediatric dentist. He does see a few kids, but his practice isn’t solely for child patients.

“If you teach a child to break up that colony bacteria that’s on their teeth at least every 48 hours, you’re not going to have issues getting older,” Weber said. “Just trying to teach them to get that brush or floss in there about once a day, that will work.”

Weber knew this message would need to be straight to the point, especially since the rule of thumb is children’s books should not be more than 500 words.

Tooth Buddy and the Golden Toothbrush is 498 words.

And so, with good reviews and online sales, including in Australia, Canada, Asia and Europe, a sequel is already in the works: “Tooth Buddy and the Magical Lost Tooth Adventure.”

“I’m happy with the response to it,” Weber said. “Kids don’t buy these books though, grandparents do. They see them in the lobby, and one lady bought five and then sent them all over the place, so that’s great, especially when you hear that one of my friends, her grandson is carrying the book around the house or another who said her son named her toothbrush ‘Tooth Buddy.’

“That’s really cool! I like that — a lot! (laughs).”

Tooth Buddy and the Golden Toothbrush by Kurt Weber, DDS
Synopsis: A fun adventure involving Tooth Buddy, his soon-to-be friend, Dentina Decay and, of course, the Golden Toothbrush. They teach four important lessons for children, ages 3 to 8. These include the importance of brushing and flossing, as well as the unstated larger-than-life lessons of nonviolent conflict resolution and respect for others and their property. Eventually, there will be a companion website to the book, which will include an interactive section for kids.
Cost: $18.59 for hardback on Amazon, Target, and Barnes and Noble

Published February 01, 2023

Networking with nature

January 31, 2023 By Mike Camunas

The Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Department is looking for the missing links.

Throughout the county, there are numerous trails in many parks, reserves and even natural areas, all which provide some connectivity, but there are gaps.

A detailed map shows the existing Greenway, Trails & Blueways Network in Pasco County. (Courtesy of Tammy Odierna)

The plan is to holistically study and understand the current and future opportunities for recreation such as walking, biking, hiking or paddling.

Although in its early stages, the Greenways, Trails, and Blueways Master Plan will cover all that, in the hopes to develop a county-wide network system of connected, recreational pathways that link parks and natural areas with neighborhoods, schools, shopping and more.

The plan builds on previous efforts to identify opportunities where the system can be expanded, or improved, as well as how to work within the public and private sectors to do so.

Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City features 406 acres of forested park with a river, trails, fishing, wildlife and an observation tower. It will be included in the Pasco County Greenways, Trails and Blueways Master Plan, which is a county-wide network that link parks and natural areas with neighborhoods, schools, shopping and other locations. (Mike Camunas)

“This is the first step of many,” said Tammy Odierna, program manager for park planning and development. “We’re connecting neighborhoods, parks, schools, stores to the trails, which there isn’t that much connection right now. It’s important because the county is blowing up with development, and we want to make sure we give citizens access to everything the county has to offer.”

“There are a lot of missing links in recreational trails, cause in the past we focused more on commuting,” added Chieh Yang, a parks planner. “They were overlooked, so we’re hoping with this plan, it’s an opportunity to identify those links and see what people want for those recreational trails.”

That is why the parks department is first turning to the public, looking to get feedback from county residents about how they’ll use the network, as well as what they would like to see in the future of recreational trails.

This isn’t just pathways, both paved and unpaved. The plan also includes blueways, or bodies of water — rivers and creeks, etc. — that are meant for non-motorized vessels and usually include an access point.

The Serenova Tract in Land O’ Lakes has approximately 21 miles of multi-use trails and various lakes and waterways that allow fishing. (Mike Camunas)

“Really, this is a long time coming and it’s needed with all the growth in this county,” Odierna said. “The county is looking to have a better integrated system of greenways, trails and blueways, and the idea is to get public input so we can put together an idea of what we want to see and what the public wants to see happen.

“After the master plan is finalized, we’ll work off that and see what’s feasible, and look at what’s priority and what the citizens think is important.”

The Pasco County Commission approved a task order on July 12 to develop the master plan. This effort is driven by requirements in the Recreation and Open Space Element of the Pasco County Comprehensive Plan, including those set by Objective REC 1.6, Policy REC 1.6.7, and Policy REC 1.6.8. The recreational network effort also complements the Active Transportation Plan effort.

Cypress Creek Preserve, which has approximately 5 miles of paved multi-use trails available from Pump Station Road and 11 miles of unpaved multi-use trails in Land O’ Lakes, is part of Pasco County’s Greenways, Trails and Blueways Network. (Mike Camunas)

Those bylaws state the Parks Department will work with the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization and the master plan citizen’s committee to form the map, as well as implementing a “wayfinding” signage program for regional and district parks and recreation facilities throughout the county as new parks and trails are developed.

Odierna said in the early 2000s, an advisory committee for trails was put together, but never carried through with a whole master plan. Then, with the growth explosion in the county in the past 20 years, any existing plan would need updates.

“We have a lot of really awesome trails and this will allow us to add even more awesome trails,” she said.

Conner Preserve in Land O’ Lakes features approximately 15 miles of multi-use trails, as well as grass and swamp lands, and a 25-acre site open for use by members of the Bay City Flyers Model Airplane Club. (Mike Camunas)

The master plan in no way affects the county’s plan to link Trinity to Trilby: the Orange Belt Trail. The county is still developing that as a separate project that will link communities such as Trinity, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel and Dade City, and will provide both recreational and economic opportunities along the way.

That trail is expected to be a 12- to 14-foot-wide paved multi-use trail, but will, eventually, have connections to the current and other future trails that are or will be included in the master plan.

For now, the Parks Department is still receiving feedback through an online survey and public workshops, with another planned for late April. The hope is to get a master plan draft done by early summer.

As for the feedback already received?

“More shading, more benches, more parks connecting to trails,” Yang said. “Like on the Suncoast Trail, there are a lot of spots that could use more shading, and this will give us a chance to address more access points on the blueways.”

Yang added: “People want to be able to walk and bike to a nearby trail, so they don’t have to drive or walk a street without sidewalks.

“This is a great opportunity to see the kind of potential Pasco County can have when it comes to trails.”

The Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Department held a public workshop at Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center for locals to learn more about the Greenways, Trails and Blueways Master Plan. The department welcomed feedback and encouraged people to complete an online survey. (Mike Camunas)

Pasco County Greenways, Trails and Blueways Master Plan
The Pasco County Commission approved a task order on July 12 to develop a Greenways, Trails and Blueways Master Plan, which is a county-wide system of connected, recreational greenways, trails and blueways that link parks and natural areas with neighborhoods, schools, shopping and other locations. The Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department also is working with county residents to get feedback on how they’ll use the network, as well as what they would like to see in the future.

To complete the 10-minute survey before Feb. 17, visit SurveyMonkey.com/r/PASCOGTB.

What are Greenways, Trails and Blueways?
Greenway: Any linear facility (paved or unpaved) intended to provide a range of recreational opportunities (active and passive) including, but not limited to walking, running or jogging, biking, hiking, paddling or equestrian uses

Blueway: Any designated route (marked or unmarked) intended for use by non-motorized vessels propelled by paddles and often include an access point

Multi-use trail: Any wide, paved or natural-surface trail, located in its own exclusive right of way separate from a roadway, intended for shared use of people walking, bike riding or other related activities

Single-use trail: Any paved or natural-surface trail, located in its own exclusive right of way separate from a roadway, intended for a single primary use, such as hiking, off-road biking, equestrian and so on

Shared-use path: Any wide, paved surface, located directly along a roadway, intended for the shared use of people walking and riding bikes or related devices.

Published February 01, 2023