North Port Fire Rescue marked the official opening of Fire Station 87 in Wellen Park on Tuesday with a hose uncoupling ceremony. The station, which has been in service since June, is the department’s seventh and represents a $10.2 million investment in the future of one of the region’s fastest growing communities. The funding came from a partnership between the city and Wellen Park’s developer, with the developer covering the upfront cost and the city reimbursing through impact fees.
The station is already making a difference. Located right in the heart of Wellen Park, it cuts down travel time for emergency crews responding to calls in that area. As more families move into new neighborhoods, having a fire station close by is critical. Fire Chief Scott Titus said the station is a direct response to the growth, and Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park, called the project a partnership to provide the public safety infrastructure needed to support new residents.
For people in North Port and the surrounding Suncoast communities, this is a sign that the city is keeping pace with development. It’s not every day a fire station opens quietly and then gets a celebration months later. But that’s exactly what happened here. What do you think about how North Port is handling growth? Do you feel like public services are keeping up in your neighborhood? Let us know in the comments.
