Old Post Office Cleanup Day Announced

The New Port Richey city government is again seeking volunteers to help spruce up a city-owned property.

The city is looking for folks willing to volunteer to paint the inside and outside of the former post office at 6345 Grand Blvd in downtown New Port Richey and also do a basic cleanup of the property. The event is slated for 8 a.m.-12 p.m., April 27.

This is the third community cleanup of a city owned property New Port Richey has organized this year. More than 350 volunteers came to help out at a clean up of the Hacienda Hotel in January. About 100 people came to the building in February to help further spruce it up.

Now, it’s the Post Office’s turn to get a good cleaning. New Port Richey’s first post office was established in 1915. In 1959, it was moved from the Arcade building on Main Street to its Grand Boulevard location, according to a press release from the city. A dedication was held that year. 

The building served as a post office through 1976, according to the release, and later became property of Pasco Office Supply and then the property of the First Baptist Church of New Port Richey. It became city property in 2005, when the city purchased the First Baptist Church.

City officials are considering making the building a business incubator or “maker space,” according to the release.

“Maker spaces are places where people can gather to create, invent and to learn, and business incubators give people with innovative ideas the tools to develop their business,” Interim City Manager Susan Dillinger said in the release. “Downtown New Port Richey is a creative environment, and the hope is to inspire more creativity and innovation by creating a space for people to bring their ideas to reality.”

Want to help out? E-mail Marilyn Mercado at mercadom@cityofnewportrichey.org or call 727-853-1021 by Friday, April 12.