Spring cleanings spruce up Hernando parks

Annual maintenance gets county parks ready for crowds. The largest, McKethan Park, draws about 250,000 visitors each year.

By JOY DAVIS-PLATT

© St. Petersburg Times, published February 23, 2000

Several Hernando County parks are in line for an annual facelift this week as crews haul in fresh sand, trim trees and touch up paint.

Alfred A. McKethan Park at Pine Island is expected to be closed until Saturday morning, said Pat Fagan, interim assistant county administrator for community and human services.

Repair and maintenance are also under way at Rogers Park and Hernando Beach, although those two locations will remain open while work continues.

Each year, the Parks and Facilities Division sets aside a week to refurbish county parks before the busy season begins in March, Fagan said.

Although February is usually slow for county parks, good weather has people spending more time outside and at the beaches, he said.

"I'm sure our office has had complaints about the closure of Pine Island," Fagan said. "But once everything is finished, people appreciate how nice the areas look."

Of the three facilities, McKethan Park is the largest, he said, drawing 250,000 visitors each year.

"It isn't surprising that these areas have to be maintained because of all the traffic they see," Fagan said.

Fresh sand will be added to each of the three beaches to level out areas that get the most foot traffic, he said, because wind and storms erode sand during the year.

"Once things are finished, I'm sure visitors will be very happy with the results," Fagan said.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.