Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus ribbon cutting and Waterwise Awards

5:23Well today's the grand opening and the ribbon cutting for the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Camp campus of Pasco County.

5:29One, two, three.

5:36Well, this is a huge impact. Obviously, this is something we've been working on for a long time. You know, we're putting our TDT dollars to use. And again, TDT dollars are paid for by visitors that come to our hotels. So this facility was built 100% with those TDT dollars from people that came from outside the area. Not a dime from our local taxpayers here in Pasco County. So this hundred thousand square foot indoor facility is going to bring in Youth sports from all over the nation, if not over the world, to come here on the weekends. And when they come here, they're gonna bring their families,

6:06they're gonna bring their spectators, they're gonna shop in our stores, they're gonna eat in our restaurants, they're gonna buy our gas, they're gonna stay in our hotels. It's gonna be a huge economic impact for our local community and our citizens here in the county.

6:18It allows us to really position the county as a major player in the sporting

6:24world. So we're basically coming in and our number one mission is to create an economic impact for Pasco County through events and tourism and secondary to provide programs for the local community through basketball, soccer, cheer, and volleyball, and then some other sports that we can add in after that. Also creating an academic portion to make sure our kids are academically

6:47set. To get through high school. It's really a community-based facility. So our kids are going to grow up here knowing that this place is home. One thing I love about the campus is it's it's multifaceted. So there's so many things that you can do here outside of just sports. Every event that comes through the

7:05building, they feel like this facility was made for them. I'm super excited. You know, also being the chair of the Tourism Development Council. This is something that's I've been on my radar for some time. Just ecstatic that it's happened.

7:28Creating a diverse, vibrant, and water-efficient landscape improves our homes and businesses while protecting the environment, benefiting our whole community. The Tampa Bay Waterwise Award is designed to recognize residential and commercial businesses for their outstanding Florida-friendly and waterwise landscaping, and their continued efforts to promote Florida-friendly principles within our communities. Today I'm excited for you to meet our Pasco County winners as they receive their well-deserved awards.

7:59So again, Mr. Jackson, on behalf of Pasco County, the Board of County Commissioners and the citizens of Pasco County, I want to congratulate you for the 2020 Waterwise Award. So what Mr. Jackson is doing and Mrs. Jackson are doing here when it comes to conserving water, but having just a beautiful landscape with native Florida plants is something that's pretty amazing.

8:19Well it means a lot, but not just for us. Because we've been trying for years to encourage others to do the same thing we've done here. Native plants are more in tune with our Florida environment, and there's been a major decline in wildlife here in Florida over the last number of years, and it's frightening. But by planting native plants, they're far more supportive of native wildlife, and that's a very important. Important consideration. It's something that we can do for wildlife.

8:50At the same time, we make our yard someplace we can go and enjoy it.

8:58Hi, I'm Commissioner Fitzpatrick and we are here live today with Heartwood Preserve Conservation Cemetery and we are here to say thank you to all of their wonderful volunteers and staff and to Miss Laura Starkey. We would like to present on behalf of Pasco County, we would like to present the Waterwise 2020 Award as the non-residential.

9:22Award, nothing to have. It's very important that we can reuse and conserve our water so we can teach our kids of the future that they can water their gardens, build community gardens, they can grow their own food, and we're reusing our natural resources.

9:40We're so happy to be part of this award and it's just I think it's a great thing that Pasco County and Tampa Bay Water is doing. It helps provide a fun incentive for people to do more more native landscaping and more you know if water efficient landscaping but this is about the landscaping around our our building which we took care to make sure that we purchased only and put in only native Florida native plants that are appropriate to this ecosystem. So we're we're excited.

10:10The Tampa Bay Water Wise Awards Program is always looking for the best landscapes using Waterwise design and maintenance practices. If you want to showcase your vibrant, attractive, and water-efficient Florida-friendly landscape, visit Tampa Baywaterwise.org to apply today or call the University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, Extension, Pasco County Office, for more information. information on Florida friendly landscaping.