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Dade City pushes county partnership on sports complex and parks master plan
Summary
Dade City representatives urged Pasco County to partner on a larger indoor sports and aquatics center to serve East Pasco youth and to coordinate on park master planning and funding; county officials said staff will continue interagency coordination and explore funding tools.
Dade City and Zephyrhills officials used the Sept. 10 workshop to press for county partnership on parks and recreational facilities, including a proposed larger indoor sports and aquatics center near schools on Dade City's north side.
Romita Woodard, speaking for Dade City, described efforts to broaden a planned facility into a roughly 40,000‑square‑foot center with aquatics and indoor space for youth recreation: "Instead of a 12,000 possible square foot facility, maybe looking at a 40,000 square foot facility with an aquatics piece," she said, arguing the facility would serve as a walkable community hub and a storm‑shelter resource.
Gail Hamilton, Zephyrhills CRA director, asked county parks staff to coordinate on a city parks master plan and noted the city's $7.55 million commitment to a new Hercules Park, with a ribbon cutting planned in December. County staff offered to work with city consultants on designs, stormwater interactions and connectivity to trails.
Why it matters: Officials said the East Side lacks large indoor recreation facilities for youth; a shared facility could provide year‑round programming, emergency shelter capacity and regional benefit.
What’s next: City staff will continue coordination with county parks and community development staff on master plans, site options and funding approaches; the cities requested staff assistance on grant and partnership strategies.
