By Kyle LoJacono
After more than two years of debate about how to spend $11 million to improve county parks, the Pasco Commission has come down to a pair of plans for the money.
One would send the entire pot to help build a sports complex near The Shops at Wiregrass, while the other would split the money between the Wesley Chapel location and a wakeboarding park in Aripeka in northwestern Pasco.
The proposed complex, which would be called Fields at Wiregrass, had its plans recently presented to the commission. The plan calls for a 160-acre park just north of The Shops at Wiregrass along Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.
The $25-million project is the brainchild of J.D. Porter, whose family founded the original Wiregrass Ranch in the 1950s that included more than 14,000 acres. While some of the land is still used for raising cattle, the Porters have given or sold off much of the property allowing the building of Wiregrass Ranch High, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and Pasco-Hernando Community College’s future Porter Campus.
“This is how you create places that aren’t simply bedroom communities,” J.D. Porter said. He added it has been his father, Don’s, dream to see the area grow from its origins as a ranch into its own self-sufficient community.
The project would include 12 multiuse sports fields for football, soccer, lacrosse and other sports activities to support large regional and national tournaments. It also includes three MLB-regulation sized baseball fields and another three for Little League games.
Other amenities will include fishing areas, hiking trails and a dock to launch canoes and kayaks.
J.D. said the family envisions the complex as similar to Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex. They have even hired former Disney executive Steve Daugherty, who for 10 years managed more than 40 youth sports events annually at the Orlando complex.
If approved, the Porters would not only pay for all construction costs not covered by Pasco, but would also pay to operate the facility. J.D. said because of that stipulation they would like the county to kick in the entire $11 million for the job.
The $11 million available comes from tax revenue collected on people staying at county hotels. The money has to go to help attract more tourists to Pasco.
However, Pasco’s parks department will not be able to keep either the Wiregrass or Aripeka facilities open without the help from investors like the Porters because of cuts to the county budget during the last four years.
Commissioner Jack Mariano, whose District 5 includes the site of the proposed wakeboarding park, said he favored splitting the money between two locations.
“That way we can get the biggest bang for the buck,” Mariano said. “Better to have two places bringing in tourists than one.”
J.D. said they would likely have to amend the plans if they do not get the entire $11 million. However, if the Porters get their wish the Wiregrass complex would be up and running to host spring break tournaments in 2014.
The commissioners are expected to vote on the plans by the end of the year.
