Nearly a decade of talk, sales, development, and steadfast commitment came to fruition today as the City of Zephyrhills officially opened the $7.6 million Hercules Park.
Zephyrhills Mayor Melony Bahr-Monson welcomed a crowd of hundreds of people to the 12-acre park featuring a nature-based playground, splash pad, scenic trails, open pavilions, and restrooms. It marks the first new community park built in the city in four decades.
The park was paid for through federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a stimulus bill to aid public health and economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is truly a community park; one the community helped mold into what you see today,” Monson said. “I want to thank all our residents who came to meeting after meeting and filled out the surveys who helped start the discussions of how this park should look and function.”
Designed by Kimley-Horn and built by Wharton-Smith, Inc., Hercules Park honors Zephyrhills’ history by incorporating elements inspired by the Hercules Powder Company, which once operated Camp No. 39 on the site more than 70 years ago.
The splash pad and nature-based playground were the biggest hit of the day with children, splashing, climbing, sliding, and spinning the day away.
“I love it,” said 8-year-old Muriah Storer as she jumped around the fountains of the splash pad. “I want my mom to bring me every day.”
Monson touted the dedication of former Mayor Gene Whitfield, who fought for the remaining 12 acres of Hercules property to remain a park when others wanted to sell it off to developers. The property, which reverted back to the Pasco County School Board after the Hercules Aquatic Center closed, was parceled out by the school district to accommodate Wawa and Culvers.
“He knew the legacy of this park and what it was supposed to be,” Monson said of Whitfield. “It was always supposed to be a community park. He stood on the corner with his family making sure everyone understood that we did not that we didn’t want this land sold and we want a community park and for that I am forever grateful.”
Memories were made Thursday, and the City of Zephyrhills gave its citizens a long-awaited gift.
“From this day forward, this park will be a place where families will come to build stronger bonds, to build stronger family units, and it will be a place where kids come to make memories that will last a lifetime,” Monson noted. “It will be a place where people come to commune with nature and escape the pressures of the world and renew and refresh their lives.”
City Manager Billy Poe welcomed the honor society students of neighboring Woodland Elementary School who came to the opening and enjoyed the park. The school is directly next to the park and the students have watched the construction through the adjoining fence for more than a year.
“For the last year, they had to suffer standing across the fence while this thing was being built and wondering if they were ever going to play on it,” Poe explained. “We welcome you and want you to have many days playing in this park.”