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Civic group gets its park

By BARBARA BEHRENDT
Published March 29, 2007

FLORAL CITY - For countless hours, the members of the Withlapopka Civic Association have labored to raise money and build a community park in partnership with the Southwest Florida Water Management District.

On Saturday, their dreams will be realized with the formal dedication of the Withlapopka Community Park at Flying Eagle Preserve slated for 10 a.m. The park is at 10357 E Gobbler Drive in Floral City.

"This has worked out very well," said Will Miller, land use and protection manager for Swiftmud. "They came to us in 2005 and told us they wanted a place outside where their kids could get out from in front of their video games."

The park grew from that idea.

Now it features hiking trails, parking, rest rooms, picnic tables, barbecue grills, a baseball field, a driving range, horseshoe pits, tether ball and playground equipment.

"Our members have been up there working at it," said Lois Irons, president of the Civic Association. "It's nothing fancy, just a nature park. ... It's a beautiful spot to go if you just want to enjoy it."

Irons said that the community group has received plenty of positive comments and the park has already been getting good use. Early on, someone stole one of the grills, but once the word went out that it could be returned with no questions asked, the grill turned up.

The community members are keeping an eye on the place to be sure people use it properly, Irons said. Swiftmud will also maintain the park with help from the community group.

The park itself is about 50 acres which had been used by the county as a disposal site for spoils dredged up from canals. The Flying Eagle property itself includes 10,950 acres and was purchased by Swiftmud in 1987.

Miller said he has not worked before with a community group to develop such a park on district property but that the partnership has been a perfect match - both the Withlapopka community and Swiftmud gain a benefit.

The community helped build the place they wanted where residents can passively enjoy the park or can recreate with their children. Swiftmud wins on the education side of the picture with those same young people.

"If we can get them outside to appreciate nature, when they become the voters, the commissioners and the representatives of the future, this will bode well for all conservation lands," Miller said.

Barbara Behrendt can be reached at behrendt@sptimes.com or 564-3621.

[Last modified March 28, 2007, 20:20:55]