Sanders, Community Center Project Approved by County

Plans for the Pasco County Parks & Recreation Department to work with the school district on recreating the Land O’ Lakes Community Center Park got a green light from County Commissioners on Tuesday.

Pasco commissioners unanimously agreed to approve an agreement that spells out details of the upcoming project. Under the plan, the park and Sanders Memorial Elementary School will work together to provide classes more access to the park during school hours and park users more access to the school's recreational grounds after hours.

“It is really exciting,” said Commissioner Pat Mulieri, who has worked closely with residents of Land O’ Lakes on planning out a new direction for the park.

Parks director Rick Buckman agreed.

“This will hopefully be the first of many future agreements between us and the school board,” he told commissioners during their Jan. 22 meeting.

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While joint-use agreements have been executed in the past, this is the first time the parks department and school district have included possible programming in the mix, Buckman added.

Under the plan, the following features of the park’s site will be made available to the school: the multipurpose field, a paved walking trail, the softball field and the picnic shelter.

The park would benefit from these features at the school during non-student hours: the physical education field, outdoor basketball courts, covered play area and parking lot.

A sliding gate would be used to prevent park users from accessing the campus when students are present.

Construction is Still in the Future

Designs for the park's renovations are still being drawn up, Buckman said, but they're moving along nicely.

"(We) do plan to seek bids to construct as soon as we can, hopefully by Spring/Summer 2013 to start," he wrote in an email to Patch.

The county has set aside funding for the estimated $1 million project.

In the meantime, Sanders Memorial Elementary School is in a state of limbo, waiting for new construction. The school district removed many of the old classroom buildings in recent years, but put plans on hold to create new buildings on the campus until population figures rise. Students who would normally attend Sanders are taking classes at Connerton Elementary for now.

Stay with Patch for updates on the project as they become available.

See Also:

• Community Center Supporters Start Petition Drive
• Park Petition Drive Gaining Steam
• Park Plans Receive Warm Reception
• Park Supporters to Address Commission Today
• Sanders Memorial Elementary School: 62 Years of Education in Pasco