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New park plan cash rich, land poor

The county has set aside several million dollars to build a new athletic park, but they have yet to find a suitable site.

By EMILY NIPPS
Published August 21, 2005

NEW TAMPA - After Hillsborough County commissioners agreed to spend $9.3-million on a New Tampa regional athletic park last month, it seemed like Commissioner Ken Hagan's quest to secure the project was all but over.

An ongoing obstacle still remains, though. Finding the perfect size and location of land has been tricky in an area that is building out fast.

The county's real estate department was scheduled to report to the board of commissioners about its land recommendations last Wednesday, but the meeting has been moved to early September. "We haven't come to a conclusion about the location yet," said Hagan, who lives in Cross Creek. "Basically, this gives us more time to look into our options."

The county is in negotiations to buy 42 acres of noncontiguous land in Live Oak Preserve, but hoped to buy the 20 acres adjacent to Branchton Park for a contiguous 40-acre park.

One landowner in particular, 72-year-old retiree Jimmy Gardner, refuses to sell his 8.2 acres for less than $300,000, which Hagan said was an "out of control" amount. His property is right in the middle of the 40 acres.

Gardner said he recently hung up on Hagan's father, Ken Hagan Sr., who has been acting as a broker for the property. However, Hagan said, he hasn't given up on the Branchton property.

The good news, Hagan said, is that the money is there and the park project is "on the fast track."

"That was the big thing, getting the funding," Hagan said. "Typically, this kind of thing can drag out four or five years. But having identified the funding, the hard part is behind us."

Emily Nipps can be reached at 913 269-5313 or nipps@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 19, 2005, 19:20:04]