'Natural' park gets ready to bloom

Port Richey's small, quiet Waterfront Park should be finished by summer's end and will include a boardwalk.

By MICHELLE HURTADO

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 23, 2000

PORT RICHEY -- The "Little City by the River" is building a "little park by the lagoon."

The small and quiet park being completed on Old Post Road seems perfect for the city of Port Richey.

"We're just going to keep it natural out there," Vice Mayor Bob Leggiere said.

After the Florida Community Trust bought the land for $1.7-million about five years ago and gave it to the city, the plan for Waterfront Park evolved. Although there was a grand opening held during Port Richey's 75th anniversary celebration on May 20, the 15-acre park will not be completed until the end of the summer.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection gave the city a total of nearly $500,000 for the park on the condition that the city has to match a portion of that. All told, the construction of the park will cost $700,000. The city is in the process of building a boardwalk on the berm that separates a lagoon from the Pithlachascotee River. The boardwalk will consist of 380 planks, available to be engraved for a price of $100 each. Proceeds will help offset the city's portion of the cost of the park.

The boardwalk is just one part of the park's development, though. Plans for a playground, a canoe launch, a ball field and a fishing pier are being drawn up.

"After that, it's just a matter of what we can add," Leggiere said. "It's going to be beautiful when we're done."

Wade-Trim, a Tampa engineering firm, has designed the plans for the park. The Public Works Department, city staff and volunteers have planted trees, made paths for walking and built a pavilion with picnic tables and barbecue grills. "It's a nice, passive neighborhood park for people to ride bikes, walk or sit and watch the water," council member Pat Guttman said.

The park will be a place for performances, activities by schools such as the Marine Institute, maybe even weddings, and it will be a meeting place for the community, Leggiere said.

"It's just the beginning of what's going to happen for this city."

Where to call

Those interested in having a plank engraved for the boardwalk should contact City Hall at (727) 845-7800. The cost is $100 for a 6-inch by 6-foot plank with a maximum of 30 characters on one line.

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