County is attracted to water park proposal

Tied to a Boys & Girls Club youth center in Lacoochee, the plan could get a boost from a golf and baseball fundraiser in August.

By CHASE SQUIRES

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 16, 2000

DADE CITY -- Any hope of building another county Olympic-sized swimming pool in east Pasco evaporated Monday, but the county's recreation director said he would favor a proposed water park in Lacoochee with slides, shallow play areas and fountains.

County Parks and Recreation director Jim Slaughter discussed the county's change of heart regarding standard swimming pools Monday at a meeting with civic leaders and retired Major League Baseball star Jim "Mudcat" Grant.

Grant would like a water park or pool as part of an ambitious plan to bring a modern Boys & Girls Club youth center to Lacoochee, his old hometown. To help pay for the project, Grant is leading a drive to hold a three-day August celebrity golf tournament and youth baseball clinic to raise thousands of dollars for the club.

Despite years of talk around Dade City of building a standard county swimming pool, similar to pools in Hudson, Land O'Lakes and Zephyrhills, Slaughter said the county is out of the Olympic-sized pool business. After building pools, Slaughter said the county found the school district and private swim clubs ended up taking them over for meets and practices.

Slaughter said the county is now eyeing youth-oriented water parks that would be of little use to swim teams but would see much more use from children and the public.

The concept of a publicly owned water park isn't new. In the Southwest Florida city of Cape Coral, the city-owned $5.2-million Sun Splash water park attracts thousands of visitors to its collection of slides, a river raft ride, pools, a sand-volleyball court and an 800-seat pavilion.

"It's a newer concept in pool use," Slaughter said. "You'll have 10 times the attendance that you would at a regular swimming pool."

Slaughter said the county isn't able to build a water park on its own, but it would be willing to work with the Boys & Girls Club on Grant's plan to build a new clubhouse and a water park at the county's Stanley Park in Lacoochee. The county, Slaughter said, would at least be able to commit to keeping its current staff at the park to help with maintenance.

Grant flew in from his Los Angeles home to meet with an advisory panel of local civic and business leaders at Adrian's Grill downtown to begin planning for the August 24-26 fundraiser. The event is expected to include a roast of Grant and an auction of donated items, including a trip to Hawaii, sports memorabilia and a baseball bat signed by Pete Rose. There will also be a golf tournament with retired professional baseball players and other sports figures as well as television and movie celebrities, including talk show host Jerry Springer.

"When I was a child, if I needed baseball shoes, somebody gave me baseball shoes. If I needed a glove, somebody gave me a glove. If I needed a ride somewhere to practice, somebody gave me a ride," Grant said. "I was lucky, there was a community that paid attention to me, and I made it to the Major Leagues."

Grant played Major League baseball from 1958 to 1971 with seven teams, including the Cleveland Indians and Minnesota Twins, where he hit a three-run home run in the World Series. He sports two World Series rings.

Today's youth are in danger of being lost, Grant said. With little to do in Lacoochee, young people are more likely to go astray, he said.

Grant said he did not have a fundraising goal in mind for the August event, but at a similar event he sponsors for abused children in southern California, he said directors were able to raise $80,000 with the help of sponsors.

For the golf weekend with a tournament at Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club, Grant has already lined up help from the Avis car rental chain, Master's Inn and DoubleTree hotels. Grant said he is looking for many more local and national sponsors.

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