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Building official declares Brasher Park slum and blight; council discusses removal and longer-term plans

5963914 · September 2, 2025
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Summary

Port Richey's building official found safety hazards at Brasher Park and described the site as slum and blight. Council and staff discussed immediate removal of unsafe structures and options for reusing the cleared site, including a small boat launch and grants for longer-term redevelopment.

City staff at the Sept. 2 Port Richey town hall reported that the building official found structural damage and safety hazards at Brasher Park and declared portions of the park slum and blight, prompting plans for immediate remediation.

Ryan, a city staffer who forwarded the building official's findings, said the official "found that the structure or the portion, had been extensively damaged" and recommended roping off affected areas. Ryan said he forwarded the building official’s letter and photos to the city manager and council and that "it is not safe to be out there." Council members agreed that unsafe structures should come down; as one council member summarized, "we're moving to the point in Brasher Park where we're gonna have a clean slate down there because everything's gonna be bulldozed."

Council and staff discussed options for the cleared site. Possible near-term work includes basic cleanup and replacing critical amenities such as a restroom. Longer-term ideas included a modest local boat launch for smaller craft, a raised viewing platform to see sunsets over the mangroves, and a veterans memorial branding option to attract grant funding. Staff noted a seagrass study is already underway for other waterfront areas and said dredging at Brasher could be pursued in coordination with county and state agencies if the city first demonstrates local investment and a conceptual plan.

No construction contract was approved at the town hall. Council asked staff to remove immediate safety hazards, prepare a conceptual plan and identify grant opportunities so that any larger improvements could be funded through grants, CRA allocations or state assistance as appropriate.