Over on the east side of Pasco County, there’s Zephyrhills, Dade City, San Antonio, St. Leo, Lacoochee, Trilby and more, some of which are the oldest towns, cities, communities and municipalities in the state. But this year, those areas saw a lot of change and happenings coming their way, so we’re taking a look back at some of the important stories that came out of East Pasco in 2023.
Pasco County’s largest municipality — with its population nearing 20,000 residents — is in the process of seeing a lot of changes and additions to itself. Zephyrhills not only has several projects on the books or underway, it even went about rebranding itself, from top to bottom, with a new town logo and slogan, color schemes and marketing campaign.
Unveiled in October, Zephyrhills embraced its history, heritage, well-known assets and future by telling residents and visitors to “Jump Right In.” The new slogan pays homage to Skydive City, while shying away from its former slogan, “City of Pure Water.” However, the color scheme still honors the water, as well as the green of the rolling hills in the town limits.
Additionally, groundbreaking and construction finally got underway for a brand new park. On Nov. 28, after more than five years of planning and budgeting, city officials broke ground on Hercules Park — a 12-acre, $5.4-million park project coming to the corner of County Road 54 and Gall Boulevard, adjacent to Zephyrhills High and Woodland Elementary schools. It will be the city’s first new park in more than 40 years.
Also happening in Zephyrhills will be more jobs on the horizon. Bauducco Foods purchased 72.5 acres of the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport’s Ready Site and should hire more than 600 employees within the coming decade to fill its $200-million new facility. Plus, Zephyrhills Bottled Water Plant, through its parent company, Blue Triton Brands, will get an expansion, adding 30 new positions and converting 45 of the existing 56 positions into full-time roles. (Mike Camunas)
Over in Dade City, Zephyrhills’ sister city is also in the midst of several projects — in fact, the city is undergoing or in the process of starting eight citywide projects, in which it has invested more than $32 million.
There’s a new park with a splash pad coming to Church Avenue and Eighth Street. There’s the redesign and rejuvenation of Polly Touchton Park. The city also is working on designs, but will eventually rebuild from the ground up James Irvin Civic Center at Naomi Jones Park.
Additionally, the city will streetscape its main street, a.k.a Seventh Street, making it more shopper- and driver-friendly. And while it’s not a city, but a county project, the Pasco County Fallen Law Enforcement Memorial, just in front of the Pasco County Historic Courthouse, is nearing completion.
“We are all excited about all the projects and improvements because we know the impact it will have on Dade City,” City Manager Leslie Porter told The Laker/Lutz News in November. “We’ve been listening to the community and working with them, hand in hand, to bring what they want to Dade City, which is growing exponentially.”
“This is all very exciting,” Mayor Jim Shive added. “We can’t wait to bring them all to our city.” (MIke Camunas)
Beginning way back in late 2019, construction on the realignment and widening of State Road 52 – from Interstate 75 to U.S. 301 in Dade City—was a cause for consternation among drivers.
But that project was finally finished in early October.
State Road 52 has shifted. Instead of going through St. Leo and San Antonio, through the rolling hills past Saint Leo University, it now bears right and passes Curley and Prospect roads. State Road 52 still becomes Clinton Avenue once past Prospect Road at the edge of St. Leo. Now, starting at the new Mirada community in San Antonio, which opened its largest human-made lagoon in the country in June, the road is a four-lane highway until it intersects with U.S. 301.
Drivers can still take the old 52, which is now County Road 52, and still go past Saint Leo and head out to the residential outskirts of Dade City at Meridian Avenue. (Courtesy of FDOT)
It’s been no secret that Pasco County, and its commissioners, are totally in on creating the Orange Belt Trail — a proposed, continuous 37-mile multi-use trail from Trinity to Trilby. However, while some proponents and residents are all for the Orange Belt — which will make use of the Coast-to-Coast Trail, Starkey Trail, Suncoast Trail and Withlacoochee Trail and is expected to be a 12- to 14-foot-wide paved — not all of them are as excited about this project.
Several East Pasco residents — namely from Dade City, San Antonio, Trilby and beyond — have voiced their displeasure with the project, pointing out it would intersect private properties or align with backyard property lines and that they are not willing to spend taxpayer money on it.
In August, Pasco County and Orange Belt project leaders heard several heated objections to the project, while in December the City of San Antonio also objected with a Sept. 20 letter to the Pasco County Commission, from Mayor John Vogel II, Mayor pro-tempore Mark B. Anderson and commissioners Alison Cagle, Kevin Damic and Sarah Schrader.
Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, a staunch advocate for the Orange Belt Trail, has said there are no plans for the county to take property against property owner wishes or impose on private property.
Orange Belt planning and discussion are expected to continue well into 2024. (Courtesy of Diane Jones)
St. Leo, which is Pasco County’s oldest municipality, with a history dating back to 1891, is a community working to brand itself beyond being home to its private college, Saint Leo University.
In February, the St. Leo’s Town Commission unveiled its plans for a multi-faceted town center at the corner of State Road 52 and Lemon Road. The facility will include an underground stormwater system for food and beverage vendors, overflow parking restrooms, sidewalks, gardens and performance plaza. It is seen to be a destination that will draw tourists — a crowning gem that St. Leo will market to those beyond East Pasco.
“We really did our homework here,” St. Leo Mayor Vincent D’Ambrosio told The Laker/Lutz News in February. “We know that we can maintain the history and feel of St. Leo while still showing the greatness that we know we’re capable of. With a town center, we won’t be a drive-thru town anymore, but a destination that people will want to stop at.”
(Courtesy of City of St. Leo)
