Land swap of 40 acres of Wesley Chapel land between Pasco & Wiregrass Ranch

Pasco County owns 40 acres of Wesley Chapel land adjacent to Saddlebrook Resort that is designated for future park/recreational use, but the land is landlocked (there is no access to it via public roads).  The county parcel previously was eyed for the Pasco County National Tennis Center, but that deal between the county and Saddlebrook fell through one year ago.  More recently the land has been considered for other recreation uses but access has been an issue.

Both local newspapers reported today that talks are underway  between Pasco County and Wiregrass Ranch land owners to swap that land with 40 acres of Wiregrass Ranch land.   The Tampa Tribune revealed that the Wiregrass Ranch parcel under consideration in the land swap is located "near Mansfield and SR 56" (putting it very close to the future Pasco Hernando Community College campus) and also "next to about 100 acres where a developer has proposed building a complex of hockey rinks and sports fields."  No specifics were provided on whether the new location would now put Wesley Chapel back into consideration for the Sportsplex USA project which met opposition from residents over its proposed location in Trinity and currently does not have a designated site.  Stay tuned, I am sure more details will follow!

Pasco votes on Sportsplex USA project in Trinity & multiple use facility in Wesley Chapel

Well sports fans......Sportsplex USA informed the county that it had reconsidered its decision last month to withdraw from managing the proposed complex in Trinity and that it had found "common ground" to work with the county on the project.  Given this new information,  commissioners voted  4-1 for Sportsplex USA  to design and build a $11.5 million softball and baseball sports complex on county owned land in Trinity. County commissioners also voted to negotiate with Sportsplex USA to manage the facility.

Additionally, Commissioners  voted 5-0 to call for proposals to develop a multi-use athletics events center on Wesley Chapel acreage on the site previously designated for the (defunct)  Pasco National Tennis Center.  This site "could" be used for lacrosse tournaments and exhibition games by the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team.

Both sites would be funded with Pasco County tourist tax dollars.

Sportsplex project in Pasco nixed?

Pasco County has been in discussions with Sportsplex USA, a California based company to design, build, and manage a sports complex paid with tourist tax dollars. As recently as last month the Pasco Board of Commissioners voted to delay a decision to enter into a contractual agreement with the California based firm pending answers to questions posed at that time.

Well, Sportsplex USA has decided to take its marbles and go home and has informed the Board that it no longer is interested in managing the project for Pasco. Let's not forget that the previous Pasco Tourist tax project slated to be located in Wesley Chapel, (The Pasco National Tennis Center) failed in May of this year when the County and Saddlebrook Resorts could not agree on details of the agreement.

Sportsplex SURVEY

Interested in answering a survey on the proposed Pasco County Sportsplex?  Towards the end of the survey your input on the specific location is requested and there are three Wesley Chapel locations to choose from among others.  Visit:  http://www.visitpasco.net/

Public meetings announced for multi-purpose sports complex project in Pasco County

Pasco County and Sportsplex USA have announced two public meetings to discuss the proposed multi-purpose sports complex.  The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 10 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City, and the second meeting will be held on Thursday, November 12 from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM at the West Pasco Government Center Board Room in New Port Richey.  While the specific site for the complex has not yet been determined, brief presentations will be made about the project and public comment will be received.  Wesley Chapel is one of the locations under consideration for the complex.

Sports complexes for Wesley Chapel?

Wow! This week the news in Wesley Chapel has been all about the possibility of two different sports complexes coming to the area. While the 5,000 seat Pasco National Tennis Center ended up fizzling out this year, the community now has two very different sports complexes that are considering Wesley Chapel.

1. Pasco County is pursuing a multifield athletics complex with Sportsplex USA. With a potential investment of up to $10 million (to be funded with Pasco County tourist dollars), the county recently directed Sportsplex USA to begin a site selection process. This County project has been under consideration since last year. Wesley Chapel, along with Land O Lakes (Connerton & Starkey Ranch) are among the the locations under serious consideration. Additional details from The Tampa Tribune.

2. The Laker reports that "The Plex", a private 470,000 square foot sports and entertainment center project is under consideration for a 42 acre site adjacent to The Grove mall in Wesley Chapel. News of this project first went public in June of 2008. The Plex is reported to include 3 ice rinks, 36 bowling lanes, an indoor water park and miniature golf, a rock climbing wall, laser tag, and a skydiving wind tunnel. The $83 million Wesley Chapel project, according to The Laker could be underway as early as this winter. The Laker did not report if The Plex would also be a Sportsplex USA project as previously reported by The St. Pete Times in 2008.