Potential Changes at Zephyr Park
By JOE POTTER
The possible relocation of the Alice Hall Community Center (named after Alice Hall in 1982, a well-known journalist) and reconstruction of the Splashpad at Zephyr Park were among the things discussed at a special meeting of the Zephyrhills City Council on July 17.
The primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss additional proposed changes at Zephyr Park that would help prevent the flooding that occurred there last year.
Recommendations on that topic by a representative of Kimley-Horne included significantly elevating the sites where playgrounds, restrooms, and the Splashpad would be located; constructing a boardwalk across the northern part of Zephyr Lake; and installing new sidewalks, some of which might overlap existing sidewalks.
All of those possible changes are still in the planning stages.
Many of them won’t be possible until the City receives up to $16 million through $3.2 million in state appropriations; $10 million in Community Development Block Grants, and $3.6-$3.8 million in nursing home funds.
Gail Hamilton, the City’s Community Redevelopment Agency (C.R.A.) director, said during the meeting that an architect had examined Alice Hall Community Center. He recommended that the 49-year-old building be demolished and replaced with a new building. Hamilton suggested a new community center building could be built at Shepherd Park, which has significantly more parking spaces than are available at Zephyr Park. Mayor Melonie Bahr Monson disagreed, stating that Shepherd Park is in a rundown part of the city that also floods. It was also suggested that a new community center could be built on property the C.R.A. had recently purchased adjacent to Zephyr Park.
Shane LeBlanc, the city’s Public Works Director, thinks the existing Splashpad at Waterplay at Zephyr Park should be replaced. That’s because the facility, which was built in 2006, “is kind of on its last legs,” LeBlanc said. Doing away with the current Splashpad at Waterplay or the plans for Alice Hall would have to be decided upon by the City Council and the community.
