JAH Architects, the firm hired by New Port Richey to develop plans for upgrades to the City’s central Sims Park, unveiled rough visualizations for the project at Tuesday’s council meeting. Council members committed $1.8 million tot he first phase of the project, including moving the playground to the north end of a larger overall Sims park, further from the traffic issues on Main Street. Also proposed would be a shift in Circle Blvd and a closing of a section of Grand Blvd so that Sims Park and the Orange Lake park would be connected with no road in between. City staff suggested that the roadway could return to a two-way traffic pattern in the new design.
The playground area proposed just north of the Hacienda would include water splash pads for children to play in, but from the visuals the overall footprint of the playground would be much reduced. Peace Hall would also need to be moved to the East side of Orange Lake.
I’m certain that many aspects of the plan as it is being presented will change significantly, but I see many core issues that should have been fixed before this project started to move forward. Firstly, there is a large water feature between Orange Lake and the river that is simply unfeasible and is highlighted with a number of pedestrian bridges throughout the park. There is also a pedestrian bridge on the West side of the river–which makes absolutely zero sense from the perspective of the park’s location (unless one is supporting the Main Street Landing project). Council members did not emphasize the pedestrian bridge, but it’s still in the plan.
There is zero emphasis placed on functionality within the park, mostly on entrances and grand design. No architectural emphasis on the Hacienda either. People are simply moved around the Hacienda rather than through it. Honestly, it would seem that a student from the University of Florida’s architectural program could produce something that better uses the resources already available in the park. The much smaller scale of the children’s playground is sure to cause some serious disappointment with the City’s residents. When festivals and concerts are not in the mix, the playground is by far the most important feature in the park. Making that smaller is a very, very bad idea. I would suggest that the City make the Hacienda a feature of the park rather than an inconvenience and incorporate the building as an entrance to the park. Use the courtyard as the main entrance. Also, make the playground much larger than is being proposed, perhaps about the same size as the current playground.
Lastly, of course, the cost is a major issue. $1.6 million for phase one with a total cost of phase one to be up to $2.86 million, followed by further incredible expenditures including a downtown parking garage. The total projected cost for the project is more than $12 million. Staff is proposing that the money would come from Penny for Pasco funds–New Port Richey’s share of which being $1.6 million per year. That means that for more than 8 years the City will have to use 100% of the Penny for Pasco funds on one, single downtown project. That doesn’t even include funds needed for repairing the Hacienda, even if the state kicks in for some of that. This is the wrong direction for the town in developing itself. Much more focus needs to be placed on livability and infrastructure in the City. More should be put toward water utilities and bike paths before this mammoth undertaking.
By Jon Tietz
The facts in this article, while journalistic, are presented with opinions which are not necessarily the view of NewsPortRichey.org as an organization. Jon Tietz is a local New Port Richey entrepreneur, teacher, and activist who ran for City Council in 2013.
Jon,
With all due respect, I’m not sure the two of us are looking at the same plan. While it is true that the first phase of the playground is somewhat smaller than the existing playground, the completed new playground will be comparable in size, if not a bit larger, than the existing playground. I don’t have the plans in front of me, but I believe the new playground expands to its full footprint with phase II. The existing playground has a lot of wasted space, so even the proposed initial phase of the new playground will be a dramatic improvement over what we have today.
All three phases are more like $12 million dollars. Phase III by itself is north of $6 million dollars and includes the parking garage.
The city has $2.4 million in “original” Penny for Pasco funds in hand and awarded grants and other funds sufficient to complete phase I, even at its full $2.8 estimated price. A fancy gateway near the current Main Street crosswalk was panned and likely won’t be built, as was a “shade structure” on the outside edge of the circular sidewalk in the middle of the park. The council discussed advancing a “phase II” item, the towers necessary to extend shade covers over the center of the park during special events. Phase II and phase III, if they are ever fully built out, “COULD” use some funds from the new Penny for Pasco, but would undoubtedly also use other funding sources.
The bridge over Main Street is a phase III item and would anchor a “zip line” that would extend all the way across Orange Lake. I’ll believe THAT gets built when you and I can line up to ride the zip line.
One of the phases includes a deck to better integrate the Hacienda into the park. I don’t recall if that is part of phase II or phase III.
Another item you failed to mention is that phase I includes additional docks along the river, something that we desperately need.
I’m positive that the park plans will continue to evolve. The most important thing to take away from last Tuesday’s work session is that the entire city council is behind the idea of moving forward as quickly as we can to finalize the details and get construction started.
Given the amount of work involved in the Hacienda project, phase I of the park will almost certainly be completed before the Hacienda is reopened. Look for work in the park to begin before Christmas and be completed in 2015.
I’m optimistic that we will see work start on the Hacienda sooner rather than later, but that is another topic.
Rob Marlowe, Mayor
City of New Port Richey
$12 million!! I just… my overall point here, and why I’m being cynical at all about the project is that we have other areas in New Port Richey that are severely, severely neglected. The bridge area seems to get worked, reworked, and double reworked with major issues in between and no real progress. Hey, maybe this time with this Sims Park project it will be different.
I get that we need the parking garage to sell the downtown to further development, but at a singular cost of $6.6 million I’m not so sure. A parking collective downtown (banning towing of other business’ customers) might be enough for the foreseeable future.
Main and Congress has been in shambles and only recently has been improved slightly by the road widening and the strip mall on the southeast corner. There’s a sidewalk under construction on the west side of Congress but it’s been ages without one. There’s been little to no linking of the various areas of the city. There’s no real corridor to Massachusetts or Congress–there’s no pedestrian crossings other than the one at Christina’s–and businesses are still routinely “shut down” rather than supported during events.
As far as the docks go, that’s details rather than philosophy. We’ve already had an issue with the EPA as far as overall dock space, right? Will it even pass their muster? The focus should be on restoring the river and Orange Lake (which you’re already doing–kudos). I would also point out that something more should be done with the boat ramp area. The Chamber should be moved.
Also, to the size of the playground area: the area in which it is located is limited by the scope of that “park within a park” area. Considering that all other aspects of the visualization include far more than I would expect to be completed, the play area being so small does not represent well for what you’re pointing out, that the playground will actually be much larger. Just doesn’t seem that way.
I see very little that such a massive project at Sims Park is going to fix as far as core concerns in the city. I’m not against the project, I’m just skeptical. I would support the idea more if, like I suggested in the article, it incorporated the Hacienda. Having that as a separate entity with the park and downtown area just surrounding it would be a shame, in my opinion.
Rob Marlowe step down & recuse your self from the Sims park/hacienda conflict of intrest prevents him from aney. Involment in these matters..
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What exactly would be the conflict of interest specific to Mr. Marlowe?
I am a new transplant from MN. With an outsider looking in mentality and college courses taken from the University of Minnesota in regards to city planning, I believe the most prudent of funds should be redirected elsewhere other than renovating Sims Park.
Access to the bathrooms while staying cooler under the magnificent Live Oaks must be appreciated by parents as it sits today. And in contrast to the mayor’s opinion, open spaces are not wasted spaces. Throwing a frisbee, tossing a baseball back and forth or kicking a ball around are all encouraged in my ideals of a perfect city. My question is where are the playgrounds that have free accessible tennis courts which are relatively cheap, immediate progress that at least one would appreciate.
But, I also appreciate how we all agree that change is needed. I hope to contribute with a redefined emphasis of importance in our ecology and economy of this great underrated place we have chosen to call home.
Happy to be living in NPR, Steve Ahlquist
Steve,
Thanks for the comment. Maybe you’d understand why Council is so keen to re-re-renovate Sim’s Park when you know that some on Council use the park a lot for their event planning.
Events are considered to be the way out of New Port Richey’s current plight. It hasn’t worked in the last 15 years, and it won’t work now.
But don’t tell them that! 🙂
I’d rather see the money spent on bike paths, sidewalks, crosswalks, and other infrastructure upgrades around the City.