The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Hercules Powder Co.

Hercules Park workshop set June 10

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Zephyrhills residents will have an opportunity to weigh in on the future development and proposed amenities of Hercules Park.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their ideas and opinions to a public workshop meeting on June 10 at 6 p.m., at Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills.

The City of Zephyrhills will host a workshop on June 10, to gather public input about the development of Hercules Park. Renovations could feature a circuitous BMX bike track with jumps and rollers, plus other passive amenities, based on this conceptual sketch from the project’s consultant, Kimley-Horn. The 12-acre park site is situated at the corner of County Road 54 and Gall Boulevard. (File)

Other stakeholders in attendance are expected to include the city’s parks and recreation advisory board, CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) board and representatives from the project’s consultant, Kimley-Horn.

The City of Zephyrhills in recent months has pondered ways to spruce up the languished 12-acre park property at the corner of County Road 54 and Gall Boulevard, next to Zephyrhills High and Woodland Elementary schools.

One possibility for the park’s update includes installing a BMX (bicycle motocross) track where youth and adult bike enthusiasts traverse winding trails and thrilling jumps, in a safe and comfortable setting.

The latest conceptual sketch plan from Kimley-Horn shows a circuitous riding trail spanning roughly 5.29 acres of the park property, albeit with many details still to be hashed out.

Height levels on jumps and bumps haven’t yet been determined, but the track is expected to have variations for beginner, intermediate and advanced bikers — keeping safety in mind, too.

Surface material hasn’t been decided, either, though one option is a dirt track with wooden features for jumps and stunts.

Also proposed is a paved pathway encircling the BMX course for parents, walkers and runners to use for general exercise purposes.

Based on renderings, remaining Hercules Park property upgrades would then take on a mostly passive vibe — with a nearly 1-acre open playfield, 1.42-acre playground and picnic/shelter area, and a soft walking trail surrounding an existing retention pond and lighted fountain spray.

An open playfield —situated at the former Hercules Aquatic Center — would offer a grassy space for throwing footballs, Frisbees and so on.

A playground, meanwhile, could include some nature-based equipment beyond conventional slides and swings — think rock climb, bridges, tunnels, rope play structures and more.

The budget for the entire Hercules Park renovation will be determined from the workshop, where amenities could be added or removed based on community feedback, Zephyrhills CRA director Gail Hamilton wrote in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

Final design and construction is expected sometime after park funding is identified for the city’s 2021-2022 fiscal year, Hamilton says.

Depending on the amenities and project cost, the development could be completed in a year, or built out over multiple years, she says.

City officials also have previously mentioned facilitating public-private partnerships for some of the park’s improvements.

In addition to its proximity to local schools, Hercules Park borders a busy Wawa gas station and Culver’s fast food restaurant, which could prompt those patrons to drop by the park to have a relaxing meal.

The park also is accessible to surrounding neighborhood developments through Henry Drive.

Should the BMX concept follow through, it would create an amenity otherwise not readily available to the East Pasco community. (Local BMX enthusiasts have previously tried accessing the Zephyrhills Skatepark at Krusen Field for those purposes.)

The closest public BMX pump tracks in the surrounding Tampa Bay area include Tampa BMX in Lutz and Oldsmar BMX.

City leaders for years have been calling for an action plan for vacant park land that once had a buzzing aquatic center and swimming pool.

Ownership of the land was transferred to the city from the Pasco County School Board in June 2018.

The park land is a legacy from about 80 acres once owned by the Hercules Powder Co.

The company, which converted pine stumps into resin and turpentine, had been the city’s largest employer at one point.

During a city council meeting last month, City Manager Billy Poe deemed the upcoming Hercules Park workshop “important” to provide additional information, plans and ideas to the public and other interested parties.

Published June 09, 2021

Hercules Park upgrades under consideration

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As the Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) preps its budget for fiscal year 2020-21, city leaders are calling for more attention to Hercules Park, a 9-acre city-owned park land property off Gall Boulevard.

Zephyrhills CRA director Gail Hamilton on July 27 probed the CRA Board of Commissioners —chaired by Zephyrhills City Council members — on which types of projects they want to have the highest priority in the upcoming year, noting the agency appears in good shape with funding this coming year.

The answer was unanimous: Hercules Park improvements are well overdue.

CRA board member Lance Smith was quick to declare it’s time to gather community input and organize an action plan for the vacant park land that once had a buzzing aquatic center and swimming pool.

He observed Hercules Park, adjacent to Zephyrhills High and Woodland Elementary schools, is visibly nestled in “a very high traffic” intersection that includes a Wawa gas station and Culver’s fast-food restaurant.

Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Board of Commissioners is calling for needed improvements to Hercules Park, a 9-acre city-owned park land property off Gall Boulevard. Ownership of the land was transferred to the city from the Pasco County School Board in June 2018. The property has sat mostly idle for years. (File)

“I think we should really work on Hercules some, because it’s been sitting there,” Smith said. “I don’t think we have to spend a tremendous amount of money on it, but I do think we have to put together a plan for it.”

Fellow board member Charles Proctor agreed Hercules Park fixes are “a longtime in the coming,” since ownership of the land was transferred to the city from the Pasco County School Board in June 2018.

Even minor improvements would make it a desirable passive park for residents, he said.

His general idea: “Make it simple, but usable,” so that upkeep isn’t an ongoing burden for the city’s public works department.

“I don’t necessarily want to go crazy with it,” Proctor said, “but I would like to make it usable, so if somebody wanted to have a picnic there or walk the trails, because it is a beautiful piece of property, and at least so that citizens can use it.”

Board chair Jodi Wilkeson added work on the park should be handled in phases, starting with some routine cleanup, then later on identify more specific long-term goals and objectives for the park’s future.

Board member Ken Burgess likewise agreed to have the property “spruced up enough where we can utilize it, until we come up with a better, eventual plan for it on down the road.”

All that in mind, Hamilton assured various park fixes are on the table for discussion.

The CRA originally planned to hold a community meeting for park input, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused it to fall by the wayside. Hamilton instead plans to meet with the city’s parks board for further input, then present it to the CRA board and city council.

Some early possibilities include underbrush clearing and designing a more welcoming park entrance, as well as installing a park fountain, benches, tree underlighting, and colorful sailcloth. Adding an art piece that pays homage to the history of the property is another idea, too, she said.

The park land is a legacy from about 80 acres once owned by the Hercules Powder Co.

The company, which converted pine stumps into resin and turpentine, had been the city’s largest employer.

“I think it needs to look nice when people drive by, (so) it looks like we care,” Hamilton said. “We’ll create a plan, and work that plan.”

A sign of how the property has languished over the years:  Zephyrhills Mayor Gene Whitfield pointed out trees surrounding the park are covered in poison ivy.

Other CRA priorities for this budget cycle include installing wayfinding and gateway signage, sidewalk repairs and developing a public art master plan, among others.

The Zephyrhills CRA is a dependent special district in which any future increases in property values are set aside in a Trust Fund to support economic development and redevelopment projects within the designated district. Although it functions within the City of Zephyrhills, the Zephyrhills CRA is a separate and distinct legal entity. The Zephyrhills City Council also serves as the appointed board governing the Zephyrhills CRA.

The CRA district encompasses the center spine of the city, generally between Hercules Park to C Avenue, and from Zephyr Park to 17th Street. Within those boundaries are the following historic neighborhood districts: Hercules, Historic Jeffries, Historic Abbott, Moore’s Estate, Zephyr Lake, Oakside and Plaza.

Main Street events suspended until December
Elsewhere, Hamilton also mentioned all Main Street Zephyrhills events have been canceled until the end of December, due to COVID-19.

Main Street Zephyrhills is a 501c3 nonprofit that generally facilitates new business and organizes large events within the historic downtown district.

One of the nonprofit organization’s most popular annual events, Music & Motorcycles, will likely be rescheduled at a later date, once events are back in the fold, Hamilton said.

Guidelines from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) will be followed in making a determination of when events with large gatherings are safe to resume, she said.

“We don’t want to have an event that’s going to cause problems, so at this moment we are still monitoring the situation,” Hamilton told the board.

The Music & Motorcycles event is typically held in September and features a live band, and a 10-class ride-in bike show along Fifth Avenue in downtown Zephyrhills.

Other events impacted included the Veterans Day Parade, National Night Out, Halloween Howl and Festival of Lights.

Main Street’s new events coordinator is Paxton McCullough, a recent graduate from the University of Georgia. She takes over for Anna Stutzriem, who resigned in March after more than two years on the post.

The coordinator position is the organization’s lone city-funded employee position.

Published August 12, 2020

Ownership agreement reached on Hercules Park

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The city of Zephyrhills and the Pasco County School Board are ready to complete a deal that will deed part of Hercules Park to the city.

A gate and a stop sign block entry into Hercules Park in Zephyrhills. About 9 acres is expected to be deeded to the city, so that the park can be reopened.
(File)

The Zephyrhills City Council approved an inter-local agreement with the school district on June 25. The agreement will be presented to school board members on July 24.

If approved, Zephyrhills would own about 9 acres of the approximately 15-acre park, off Gall Boulevard.

“We’re glad. We’re happy,” Zephyrhills City Manager Steve Spina said.

Negotiations have been ongoing with school district officials for years on the park’s fate.

The park land is a legacy from about 80 acres once owned by the Hercules Powder Co.

The company, which converted pine stumps into resin and turpentine, had been the city’s largest employer.

The school board, which eventually came to own portions of the property, signed an agreement for Pasco County to operate the park. But, nearly eight years ago, Pasco closed the park as a cost-savings measure.

The park has languished until the city and school board reached this new agreement.

“Sometimes, it’s worth waiting for,” said Spina.

This 2017 rendering shows potential plans for refurbishing Hercules Park. No final decisions have been made.
(File)

In addition to the land, Zephyrhills would receive about $13,000, which could be used for general cleanup or possibly to cover demolition of structures at the park’s former aquatic center.

The money is a donation from developers who bought park acreage from the school board at the corner of Eiland and Gall boulevards. The site has a new WaWa gas station and convenience store, which recently had a grand opening.

As part of the agreement, Zephyrhills’ officials agreed that the remaining park land would be kept for public use only.

Spina said area schools would be able to use the park for special events.

A master plan for Hercules Park is under consideration, but Spina said no decisions have been finalized.

In 2017, plans for the park included trails, a picnic area, a trailhead for bicyclists and an outdoor center.

But, Spina said, “It’s not our intent to open the aquatic center.”

A decision also must be made on what to do with a building located by the swimming pool, he added.

Some playground equipment remains at the park, but Spina said, “It might be replaced. It’s badly out of date and doesn’t meet ADA (Americans with Disability Act) standards.”

Published July 11, 2018

Master plan developing for Hercules Park

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Hercules Park is still in line to become the property of the city of Zephyrhills. But, an agreement to transfer the parkland from the Pasco County School District to the city remains a work in progress.

“We’re still on track to turn it over, and we will do that,” said Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools.

The Zephyrhills City Council received an update on the matter on Jan. 10 from the city’s planning department.

Consulting firm Kimley-Horn completed a master plan for Hercules Park, including trails, an outdoor event center and a trailhead for bicyclists.
(Courtesy of Kimley-Horn)

Site approval is nearly complete for a WaWa convenience store and gas station at the corner of Eiland Boulevard and U.S. 301.

The city also is preparing a site, south of WaWa, for marketing to developers, possibly for a restaurant or retail.

A master plan for restoring and reopening Hercules Park also is on the drawing board.

The approximately 15-acre park site is a historic relic that once was part of about 80 acres owned by the Hercules Powder Co. The company, which converted pine stumps into resin and turpentine, had been the city’s largest employer.

The site also eventually became home to the park, Zephyrhills High School and Woodland Elementary School.

Based on an agreement with the school district, Pasco County operated the site as a park for several years. However, the county closed the park more than six years ago to save money, and returned the property to the school district.

The Pasco County School Board agreed last year to sell about 2.5 acres to GH & G Florida LLC. A second parcel, south of WaWa, also will be developed.

However, several acres of parkland will remain for transfer to the city of Zephyrhills.

Consulting firm Kimley-Horn has completed a master plan for Hercules Park. It includes trails, a picnic area, a trailhead for bicyclists, an outdoor center, playground area, and connecting sidewalks to area schools and neighborhoods.

“Mostly the interest is to keep it a passive park,” said Todd Vande Berg, the city’s planning director.

Preserving trees and low-impact activities are what people seemed to want as opposed to building tennis or basketball courts, he added.

No decisions have been made on the future of the park’s aquatic center and swimming pool, he said.

But, he said, “Everything is moving forward for transfer.”

Published January 25, 2017

 

Land sale pending near Hercules Park

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A commercial corner by the entrance into Hercules Park is on its way to being sold.

What happens with the remainder of the park’s land will depend on negotiations between officials from Pasco County Schools and the City of Zephyrhills.

Zephyrhills officials remain eager to see the park reopened and refurbished, said Steve Spina, city manager.

He anticipates meeting with school district officials in coming weeks.

“We’re not sure of the acreage yet,” Spina said.

Pasco County school officials plan to discuss the future of Hercules Park with the city of Zephyrhills, possibly looking at shared parking for the district’s ball field and the park. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Pasco County school officials plan to discuss the future of Hercules Park with the city of Zephyrhills, possibly looking at shared parking for the district’s ball field and the park.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

That won’t be known until the land deal is completed, city and school officials said.

Because of various stipulations in the agreement, a closing date is not expected until Dec. 9.

The Pasco County School Board, on April 5, approved the sale of approximately 2.5 acres to GH &G Florida LLC for about $1.7 million. The property is at the southeast corner of Gall Boulevard and County Road 54, near the entrance into Hercules Park.

However, the buyer could opt to purchase two smaller, adjacent parcels for an additional $600,000, according to the contract agreement.

Pasco County closed the park about five years ago to save money. Based on a prior agreement, the approximately 15-acre site had to be used as a park or be returned to the school district, which owns the property.

The property went on the market in 2015, but a $1.7 million bid by the city of Zephyrhills fell short of the initial $2.3 million offer from GH & G Florida. The company pledged to donate 10 acres to 11 acres to Zephyrhills for its park.

GH & G had six months to complete the deal, but later asked for an extension. That led to more negotiations and an agreement to sell less acreage.

The parkland is a historical site for Zephyrhills, and part of about 80 acres originally owned by Hercules Powder Co. The company, which converted pine stumps into resin and turpentine, once was the city’s largest employer.

The property later became sites for the park, Zephyrhills High School and Woodland Elementary School.

Hercules Park has a fitness trail, children’s playground and an aquatic center in a woodland setting.

School officials plan to pursue an agreement with the city.

The district has ball fields next to the park, and there would be opportunities to share parking space and other amenities.

“It would be a matter of us and the city sitting down to talk through those details,” said Chris Williams, the school district’s planning director. “I think it would be beneficial for both of us.”

Published April 13, 2016

Is Hercules Park back in play?

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The city of Zephyrhills could get another chance to own Hercules Park.

A deal between the Pasco County School District and Gh&G Florida LLC remains under negotiation, but it isn’t clear a final deal can be struck.

To put the city of Zephyrhills in the posture of being able to purchase the park, the Zephyrhills City Council, on Dec. 14, voted 3 to 2 to renew the city’s offer to buy the park for $1.7 million.

City council members Charles Proctor and Lance Smith voted against the proposal.

City officials sent a letter of intent on the offer to the school board.

A fence prevents vehicles from entering the shuttered Hercules Park, but the city of Zephyrhills remains hopeful that it will be able to buy the park from the school district. (File Photo)
A fence prevents vehicles from entering the shuttered Hercules Park, but the city of Zephyrhills remains hopeful that it will be able to buy the park from the school district.
(File Photo)

“Our contract is kind of a backup contract,” said Steve Spina, Zephyrhills’ city manager. “We’re in a different ball game. If they can’t (close the deal), we’ll step up to the plate.”

Spina said he believes the developers are having a hard time making their financial plan work.

Representatives with the development company approached city officials in October about a possible private/public partnership.

Spina said the offer was declined.

The city lost out in June when its bid came in lower than the $2.3 million offered by Gh&G Florida LLC. The school board voted to begin negotiations with the development company with expectations that 10 acres to 11 acres of parkland would be donated to Zephyrhills. The park site has a fitness trail, children’s playground and an aquatic center.

At one time, the parkland was part of about 80 acres owned by Hercules Powder Co., formerly the largest employer in Zephyrhills. The company converted pine stumps into rosin and turpentine. The property later became sites for the park, Zephyrhills High School and Woodland Elementary School.

The county shut down the park nearly five years ago citing budget issues. A prior agreement between the county and the school district required that the land be used for a park or be returned to the school district.

Gh&G Florida is about three months into a six-month contract to purchase the site.

“Until they withdraw their contract, I have to deal with them,” said Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools.

But, he added, “We would not sell the property unconditionally to Zephyrhills for $1.7 million.”

Sticking points could be the potential sale of a portion of the site for commercial use.

Spina said the city remains interested in reviving the 15.5-acre park, but also would like to sell about two acres along U.S. 301, just south of a corner lot.

City officials have said the intent would be for those two acres to be developed for a purpose compatible with the park.

But, Gadd said that would have to be negotiated if the original contract with Gh&G Florida doesn’t work out.

Published December 23, 2015

Developers could buy Hercules Park; donate land

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The city of Zephyrhills lost its bid to purchase Hercules Park, but there is hope still that a large swath of the park and its aquatic center can become city property.

The Pasco County School Board unanimously voted to begin negotiating the park’s sale with developers from Gh&G Florida LLC. Their bid for $2.3 million topped Zephyrhills’ bid of $1.7 million for the 15.5-acre park.

A fence, with a stop sign, blocks vehicles at the former entrance to Hercules Park. A faded sign lists park rules. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
A fence, with a stop sign, blocks vehicles at the former entrance to Hercules Park. A faded sign lists park rules.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

But Deputy School Superintendent Ray Gadd said any deal brought back to the school board must stipulate that between 10 acres to 11 acres of the park would be donated to the city of Zephyrhills.

The acreage would include a fitness trail, the children’s playground and the aquatic center.

School board member Allen Altman said he agonized over his vote.

He explained: “We just don’t have the ability to turn down additional money right now.”

The school district is recovering from significant budget cuts resulting from the economic crash in 2008. The lack of funding for capital improvement projects is critical, said school board member Cynthia Armstrong.

“It is our constitutional duty to do fiduciarily what is best for our people, our students, who are also the people in Zephyrhills,” she said.

Other board members echoed those sentiments despite impassioned pleas from Zephyrhills’ Mayor Gene Whitfield and others to accept Zephyrhills’ bid.

“I’m disappointed,” Whitfield said. “We want the park. We’ll do everything we can. We’ll wait to see what they offer and proceed from there.”

Prior to the school board’s vote, Whitfield recounted the park’s history. He described a “handshake” agreement nearly 50 years ago between Hercules Powder Co. and the school district that the park would be used for children and for education but not for commercial use.

At one time Hercules Powder Co. was the largest employer in Zephyrhills. The company processed pine stumps into rosin, turpentine and pine oil on about 80 acres. The property later became sites for the park, Zephyrhills High School and Woodland Elementary School.

Some residents had feared that a gas station would be built on a corner lot at U.S 301 and County Road 54, adjacent to the park. But a $1.7 million bid from Del Lago Ventures Inc., affiliated with Race Trac Petroleum Inc., was rejected.

Belleair Development Group, with a $1.6 million bid, also lost out.

“Something needs to be worked out, because we in Zephyrhills need that (park),” said resident Fern Williams. “I’m not even seeing what your vision is with a gas station on that corner.”

A jungle gym, picnic table and swing set go unused at Hercules Park, which was closed by Pasco County four years ago for lack of funding.
A jungle gym, picnic table and swing set go unused at Hercules Park, which was closed by Pasco County four years ago for lack of funding.

In April, school officials announced plans to put the corner parcel on the market for commercial sale. Zephyrhills’ City Council previously agreed to rezone the site with expectations that the school board would consider leasing the remaining acres to Zephyrhills for $1 a year for 100 years.

City and school officials have somewhat different recollections on what happened next.

Gadd said as far back as 2011, the school board raised the possibility of a lease, but city officials rejected the offer.

Following the recent rezoning of the corner lot, he presented the lease option to the school board but never heard back from Zephyrhills for follow-up. City officials said the lease agreement would have precluded them from applying for grants. Buying the property was the best option, they said.

The city planned to use several funding sources including Community Development Block Grants and the Penny for Pasco program. The bid also included the right to sell about 2 acres, south of the corner lot. City officials said, if they needed the funds from the lot’s sale, it would be developed for a purpose compatible with the park.

The future of the park has been under discussion since Pasco County’s decision to close it nearly four years ago. County officials said the county could no longer afford to operate and maintain the park and its aquatic center.

Under a prior agreement, the park had to be used or returned to the school district.

School officials estimate that Zephyrhills could receive about $50,000 annually in property and gas tax revenues if the deal goes through with Gh&G.

Zephyrhills’ officials dispute those numbers, saying the city will receive very little from gas taxes.

They peg property tax revenues at about $6,000 a year.

Gadd said school officials are in agreement with Zephyrhills on the goal to reopen the park and see the pool again hosting swim meets.

During the long closure, he said the pool has been vandalized and homeless people have been found living in the woods.

Law enforcement has been called there on several occasions.

“To me its sad to see the pool has fallen into disrepair,” Gadd said.

Zephyrhills’ City Manager Steve Spina remains hopeful of a good outcome.

“I understand their position,” he said of the school board’s vote. “I think it’s good if they can work it out, and we get the bulk of the land. It’s a win-win.”

Published June 24, 2015

Zephyrhills puts in strong bid to buy Hercules Park

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The Zephyrhills City Council voted to put in a bid with the Pasco school board to buy Hercules Park and develop a master plan to restore the historical park and former aquatic center.

Council members had a special public meeting April 20 to discuss options including purchase of approximately 2.5 acres of the park that has long been rumored as a site for a Race Trac gas station.

The decision was to offer $1.7 million for the entire 15.5-acre park, said Mayor Gene Whitfield.

The deadline for submitting the bid was April 24.

“There was a little bit of a time crunch,” Whitfield said.

Buying the entire park from the school board leaves less chance for a gas station or other commercial development at that corner of the park, the mayor said.

“We have nothing against private enterprise,” he added, “but this is a choice piece of property with a deep history in our community.”

The school board in early April announced plans to put a small parcel at the corner of U.S. 301 and County Road 54 up for commercial sale. The city council previously had been asked to rezone the site. In return, city officials had expected to reach agreement with the school board on a long-term, $1 a year lease for the remaining acreage.

The fate of Hercules Park has been under discussion for nearly two years, with some residents lobbying the city to negotiate for ownership.

The funds for the city’s bid, if accepted, would come from park impact fees, the Penny for Pasco program and about $700,000 from about $3.3 million in the city’s reserve fund, said City Manager Steve Spina.

The city could have an advantage over commercial bidders who would likely have to complete time-consuming environment impact studies, Spina said.

“We could settle right away,” he said. “I think it’s a viable option.”

The park got its name from the Hercules Powder Co., once the largest employer in Zephyrhills. The company processed pine stumps into rosin, turpentine and pine oil. Its property sprawled across 80 acres that became sites for the park, Zephyrhills High School and Woodland Elementary School.

More than two decades ago the school district gave the site to Pasco County with the stipulation that it be operated as a park or be returned to the school district. The county closed the facility nearly four years ago because it was too costly to operate.

Whitfield said it’s important to preserve green space as a balance to renewed commercial growth in the area. The north side of Zephyrhills needs more park amenities, he added.

“We want to make sure it (Hercules Park) goes back to being a park,” he said.

If the city wins the bid, a master plan will be crafted to restore the park, including the aquatic center. No hard figures on restoration costs will be available until such a plan is completed.

“We have some grant opportunities we can pursue,” Spina said. “A large part of the park would remain wooded and passive.”

Published April 29, 2015