Civil Municipal - May 2024

attracting tourists for generations, Zephyrhills has also carved out a niche as a destination for skydiving and tennis enthusiasts. Above all, the city maintains a serene and welcoming atmosphere for the 17,000 people who call it home. As Zephyrhills continues to welcome growth, it remains committed to enhancing development, infrastructure, and the overall quality of life for its residents. City Manager William Poe, a native of Zephyrhills, expresses a deep connection to his hometown, highlighting its evolution and development over the years. He shares,“Zephyrhills holds a special place in my heart. It’s always been on the leading edge here in Pasco County, as far as different developments that have occurred.We’ve seen rapid growth and projects. Developments that we thought would take 15-20 years are taking two years.We are becoming a pretty big melting pot of different cultures throughout the community, which is wonderful.” INVESTING IN OUTDOOR AMENITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE Poe notes that Zephyrhills takes pride in its robust park system and wide range of outdoor recreation options. He conveys, “We’re currently investing just over $7 million in our Hercules Park, for a splash pad, playground equipment, walking trails, and some biking trails.” Currently, the city is working on a Parks Master Plan to further improve these spaces throughout the community. “We’re looking to make sure that we don’t have any deficiencies, based on our levels of standard and expectations from the community,” he maintains.“We are looking at howwe can address those and provide additional amenities, be it enhanced playground equipment, splash pads, exercise equipment, ball fields, whatever it may be.” In terms of other infrastructure, Poe says that Zephyrhills has been able to manage sewage effectively, currently utilizing only 45% of the available capacity despite the ongoing growth. However, the city is experiencing water supply constraints as the population continues to surge. 171 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 05 ZEPHYRHI LLS, FL