City Council approved $27,750 from Penny for Pasco funds for the design phase of a multi-use path on Marine Parkway in southern New Port Richey between U.S. 19 and Grand Boulevard. The path will lead directly to the former Community Hospital site which has been discussed as a potential Veterans Administration facility. The path will include street lights, landscaping, bus stops, and benches similar to those in downtown New Port Richey.

The City approved the hiring of Terra Tectonics Design Group for the design project. “We’re hoping that this creates excitement” said Public Works Director Robert Rivera, “it will help out the businesses.” Design plans should be finished in July. The City can then move to bids for the construction phase. River estimated that the project could cost $500,000. The path will connect to the U.S. 19 multi-use path constructed by Pasco County that heads south to Moog Road.

Former Public Works Director Sherman Applegate was present at a meeting two weeks ago asking that the City include plans for reuse water irrigation systems along the path, and said the City was missing the mark by not including the capacity for reuse water while the project was underway. He said construction costs would be higher later and the City could expect to pay more in the long run if the plans were not adjusted. Applegate said that the proposed landscaping for the pathway could suffer as well if reuse were not included.

No indication has been made that reuse water has been re-included in the project.

The City also has long range plans to construct a bike path from the intersection of Congress Street and Massachusetts Avenue to the Pithlachascotee River and Sims Park via NorthBay Hospital. That path will connect to an existing path constructed by Pasco County that leads to bike trail at Starkey Park.