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Hernando Today

Ridge Manor Park Expands

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By MICHAEL D. BATES

Hernando Today

Published: December 7, 2008

RIDGE MANOR - It used to be that once motorists headed east on State Road 50 to the Ridge Manor area, there wasn't a whole lot out there.

There was a scattering of hotels and fast food restaurants near Interstate 75 to serve weary and hungry travelers. And there is the giant Wal-Mart Distribution Center, home to hundreds of workers.

But the eastside is ready to boom, thanks to two mega-residential-commercial developments called Hickory Hill and Sunrise. Shopping centers are springing up to meet the future demands and the county is now planning infrastructure projects to meet the increase in population.

County Parks Director Pat Fagan said he has already noticed the demand for more athletic fields on the eastside.

"You've got more and more kids moving into the Ridge Manor area and we would like to start more sports programs," Fagan said.

The result: the expansion of the 41-acre Ridge Manor Community Park, at 34030 Ridge Manor Blvd.

Just before Thanksgiving, the county closed the parking lot to make way for 100 new paved parking spaces to replace the old asphalt and tire mulch visitors had to drive on.

Until around mid-January, visitors will have to park on the overflow grassy area.

But parking is not the only improvement.

There will be new sports lighting, the addition of two baseball fields and one basketball court. Contractors have already installed a larger picnic pavilion.

A new multi-purpose field will allow kids and adults to play soccer, football and other sports.

For those seeking a more serene activity, there is always the opportunity to saunter down the park's nature trail.

The entire project should be done by April 2009, Fagan said.

The $400,000 project was paid for by a $200,000 grant from the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. Hernando County matched that grant with another $200,000, taken from the capital improvement fund and impact fee revenue.

County Commissioner James Adkins, who represents the county's eastside, said he's heard from several people in that area wondering when they would get more amenities.

This park expansion, he said, is a good start.

"The public out there, they always think they're left out of the loop," he said. "I'm hoping that this will be a good thing that the community will take care of and be able to utilize.

For more information about the park expansion, call 754-4154.

Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or mbates@hernandotoday.com.

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