Garden club seeks to save Spring Hill landmark
SPRING HILL –
When the Mackle Brothers developed Spring Hill in 1968, they envisioned a beautiful, eye-catching entrance to attract prospective homeowners to their new community.
They came up with the Spring Hill waterfall, which for years had been dubbed, “The Gateway to Spring Hill” at the corner of U.S. 19 and Spring Hill Drive.
But even a landmark can fall victim to the bad economy.
The county parks department, which has been maintaining the water system at the site for most of the last three decades, was forced to stop doing so this month because of costs.
No longer will county staffers maintain the water pump (which can be costly when it breaks) or the chemicals or filters.
That’s bad new for the 78 volunteers of the Spring Hill Garden Club which continues to maintain the flowers and shrubs at the entrance.
There is no way the club can take on the added responsibilities of maintaining and paying for the water end of the site, said member Deborah Swanson.
Only about 20 percent of her volunteer force is active and, with the average age around 70, it is a daunting task, she said.
Swanson is asking the public for help.
At 10 a.m. Saturday, her volunteers will hold a “Save our Waterfall” rally in front of the site to bring attention to the club’s plight. The public is invited to join in, she said.
The club is also planning to start a bank account to allow public donations. It won’t be long, she said, before the aging pump gives out and needs to be replaced.
Swanson said she is not bitter with the county.
“I wish it had not happened,” she said. “But I know there are cuts all over and we just want to maintain it.”
County Commissioner Dave Russell on Wednesday believes this is an initiative for the private sector in these tough economic times. And Russell, who owns a pool company in Spring Hill, has already laid down the gauntlet.
“I’ll challenge every other pool business in Spring Hill, as my business will, to help contribute to the cause,” he said.
Russell said the lack of maintenance to the artificial waterfall will cause it to fall into disrepair and pose a health hazard to the community.
Stagnant water breeds mosquitoes and disease, he said.
At Tuesday’s commission meeting, Russell asked staff to looking into funding options and report back to the board.
County Commissioner Wayne Dukes said property owner organizations could step up and help pay to maintain the waterfall entrance, as they do with the Hernando Beach dolphin fountain directly across the street at Osowaw Boulevard and U.S. 19.
Swanson remains hopeful the community’s “gateway” will continue to function.
“It’s the only landmark, really, for Spring Hill,” she said.
Reporter Michael D. Bates can be reached at 352-544-5290 or [email protected].
