Future likely to have private firms running facilities
By Kyle LoJacono
Though Pasco County has $11.4 million to build new recreation facilities, there’s no money in the budget to operate any new facilities.
“We barely have the budget to maintain what we have,” said county parks director Rick Buckman. “We’ve lost 30 percent of our budget since 2007 and we’re expecting more cuts this year.”
In total, the department’s budget has been cut $1.8 million from 2007-10 and Buckman said the projected reductions this year is $470,000, down another 5.8 percent. They are already planning to close the last two public pools, which would save $289,000 a year in operating costs.
Despite the budget concerns, the Pasco Commission is looking to the private sector for ways to use the money allocated for new facilities without closing existing sites.
The plan is to donate county land and pay for much of the initial building cost, and then turn the operation over to private companies who would pay to run the sites.
“We haven’t set anything in stone for the proposed sites, but it seems like the best option,” said Commissioner Ted Schrader.
The idea is not completely new, as the commission worked out a deal with Sportsplex USA to manage a regional park at Starkey Park in Odessa. The county offered $12 million to build the site, but demanded assurance from Sportsplex that the site would remain open regardless of the finances.
“We can’t give away millions of taxpayer dollars without a guarantee the money won’t go to waste,” Schrader said. “I’d say that’s something we should always ask for.”
Sportsplex walked away from the deal earlier this year. A similar proposal to build the proposed Pasco National Tennis Center in Saddlebrook Resort in 2009 fell through as well because of Pasco wanting protection for the money given.
Now the county can use additional money from sales tax and impact fees, up to a total of $21 million, to sweeten any deal to operate such facilities. However, Pasco has yet to come up with a way to make such proposals palatable for private companies.
“We’re kind of to the point where we have to decide, where do we want to move forward?” said Michele Baker, assistant county administrator.
Commissioner Pat Mulieri added, “We just have to be realistic. There isn’t money to be able to run these facilities, but we need to think of how to better Pasco County.”
Pasco commissioners talked about four potential sites to build new facilities at a recent board meeting, which include large regional parks in Wesley Chapel near Wiregrass Ranch High and Starkey Park. They also include smaller locations in Trinity and Hudson.
The board discussed creating a 160-acre park in Wesley Chapel. Pasco would own 40 acres with the Porter family controlling the remaining 120 with some level of public access.
J.D. Porter, whose family owns much of the Wiregrass Ranch land, has described the future site as similar to Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando. He envisions a tournament destination for many different sports, which could help boost Pasco’s economy.
“We have the Dick’s Lacrosse Tournament each winter and that brings so many people from all over the country,” Mulieri said. “Our hotels, restaurants and stores are packed. It’s a major shot in the arm each year.”
In Odessa, the board still wants to build an 80-acre park in Starkey Ranch. The facility would likely include baseball and soccer fields, a skate park, a bicycle track and a cable park on a lake for water skiing.
Much like in Wesley Chapel, the county would like to own part of the land, which would be paid for by fees imposed on the privately operated portion.
Former county commissioner Michael Cox, a representative for the Starkey family, said the public park would “provide the foot traffic and exposure” for the private section. Cox was the main supporter of the Sportsplex project when on the board.
Building the four proposed parks would take a near miracle, according to Commissioner Jack Mariano.
“I don’t think we could build all four,” Mariano said. “It is good to have these things in front of us, so we can have more discussions. We can’t move forward without these kinds of talks.”
County Administrator John Gallagher said the commissioners want at least a five-year commitment from a private company before any park would be built. Without a compromise, any deal could suffer the same fate as Sportsplex and the tennis center have the last few years.
Proposed park sites
Regional park in Wesley Chapel near Wiregrass Ranch High
Regional park Starkey Park in Odessa
Small local park in Trinity
Cable park on the Gulf coast in Hudson
