HUDSON, Fla. — A popular Pasco County park is back open again after sustaining damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

What You Need To Know

  • One of Pasco County's largest parks has reopened to the public after sustaining damage from Hurricanes Helene and Milton

  • Both hurricanes brought issues right to the park- notably, a lot of sand was blown out into the parking lot

  • A total of 26 truckloads of sand had to be brought in to replace what was lost

  • The damage was something, county officials say, the park had not seen in its near decade of existence

It’s required months of work, but SunWest Park has its white sandy shores once more. Truckloads of the sand had to be brought in to repair the beach.

“This is a crown jewel park for the county,” said Jason Mickel, public works director for Pasco County.

Various activities like wake boarding and beach volleyball courts bring in local residents and tourists.

“There’s plenty of areas to come out here and recreate and there’s a designated swimming area here as well,” said Mickel.

Not that long ago, it looked a little different from what it does today. Having been struck by back-to-back hurricanes in Helene and Milton last fall.

“We had public works crews out here for about two weeks," says Mickel. "They focused mainly here on the south side. They also did- right where we’re standing in this swimming area- and they also had to do some repairs on the north side as well on this part of the beach. Everywhere, pretty much where there’s a designated swimming section, there had to be repairs made.” 

A lot of the sand was blown out into the water and, even, to the parking lot.

“We also brought in, in coordination with the parks department, 26 truckloads of white sand that you see now, that is on top of the beach,” said Mickel.

It wasn’t just the sand, the hurricanes brought storm surge and wind damage. Something the park had not seen in its near decade of existence. 

“I think a lesson for most of us in emergency management, to learn that a storm that doesn’t even make landfall in your area can still bring a tremendous amount of surge," said Mickel. "We saw many, thousands of homes damaged from Helene- even though it didn’t direct hit us.”