Hurricane Irma Recovery: Tarpon Springs Update

TARPON SPRINGS, FL — As Tarpon Springs continues to recover from Hurricane Irma’s unwanted visit, city officials have shared an update of what’s open and what’s not. They also have updates on services critical for recovery.

While city hall is back up and running, some landmarks have yet to reopen in Tarpon Springs. The city also has important information to share about utility status and trash pickup. (For more hurricane news or local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Tarpon Springs Patch, and click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

As of Thursday morning, here’s the status of Tarpon Springs’ facilities:

• The recreation community center will remain closed until Monday, Sept. 18.
• Cycadia Cemetery is set to reopen on Saturday.
• The splash park, dog park and sunset beach will all reopen on Sept. 16. To help kids burn off a little post-Irma steam, the city plans to use the venues for a back-to-school bash on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.
• The Tarpon Springs Municipal Golf Course will remain closed until further notice.
• The sports complex, Craig Park and buildings in Craig Park are closed until further notice.
• Tarpon Springs Library is open.

Watch: Hurricane Irma's Destructive Journey By The Numbers

Sanitation Information

• The city has resumed normal garbage pickup.
• Storm debris collection is set to begin on Monday, Sept. 18.

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• The yard waste facility is open, but regular prices for disposal apply. Residents who do not want to pay are asked to wait for the free curbside service. If using curbside, residents should make sure storm debris is not stacked on the right-of-way. It should not be bundled.

Building Permits

The city’s building department is up and running. “Storm-related, streamlined permitting for storm repairs will be offered until further notice,” an email from the city said. “Trees damaged by the storm may be removed without a permit. Undamaged trees will still require a permit for removal.”

Utility Updates

• Duke Energy expects to have all of Pinellas County back online by midnight on Friday.
• The city has no boil water notices in place, but low water pressure may be an occasional concern as rebuilding continues.
• Some of Tarpon Springs’ sewer lift stations are operating on generator power. With that in mind, the city is asking people to limit laundry and to avoid taking long showers to keep stress off the system.

Patch photo of storm debris by Sherri Lonon