Zephyrhills revises Zephyr Park design after last year’s flooding, moves key amenities to higher ground

James Pankenen, a project engineer with Kimley‑Horn and Associates, told the Zephyrhills City Council on July 17 that the city’s Zephyr Park plan has been revised after last year’s severe rain events to reduce future flood damage and protect core amenities.

Pankenen said the team used drone photography and on-site surveys after Tropical Storm Debbie and Hurricane Milton to map high-water limits and then adjusted grading so playgrounds, restrooms and the splash pad would sit “between 82 and 83” feet in elevation — generally a foot above the interpreted peak high-water line of about elevation 81 recorded during last year’s storms. “We had these major rain events… These caused us to take a little bit of pause,” Pankenen said, describing why the design team rechecked elevations and site grading.

The revised plan keeps the approved master-plan program — event lawn, band shell, pavilion, playground and splash pad — but shifts some elements to higher ground, adds a boardwalk that extends over the lake, clusters exercise equipment into a dedicated fitness zone and introduces a “team challenge” course aimed at older children and teenagers. Pankenen said the splash pad will be located near existing utility infrastructure to reduce underground rebuilds and remain “close” to its current location.

Why it matters: Zephyrhills leaders said moving structures above last year’s peak waterline is intended to reduce repetitive repair costs and keep restrooms,…