Saddle Creek Park is a 740 acre park located between Winter Haven and Lakeland in Polk County, Florida[1] It is on the site of three main lakes and a great many other abandoned phosphate pits, providing a large area of fishable shoreline.[2] Over 175 species of birds have been recorded at the park.[3] The maximum depth of the pits is 30 feet.[4]
History
editIn 1961 American Cyanamid donated a 740 acre tract to Polk County. Within 5 years, several miles of trails and sand beaches were added. In 1966 the beach was described as the only freshwater public swimming area in Lakeland. Abandoned mine tailings created hillocks as high as 50 feet. Numerous picnicking shelters were established and a canoe rental facility was opened.[5]
In 1971 the state offered 100,000 for park expansion.[6] In 1986 an aluminum boat capsized; two of the five occupants drowned.[7]
In 1982, the county added a live-in Sheriff's deputy to provide security and crack down on unauthorized drinking at the park.[8]
In 1985 and 1986, community groups fought against a pair of rezonings to property near the park. In 1985, 3 acres adjacent to the park were zoned commercial,[9] and a RV Park was proposed. In spite of 1,271 petition signers and 70 protesters, the board approved the rezoning.[10][11] In 1986, they disputed a proposal to build a mobile home park adjacent to the park, citing excessive density, flooding potential, and damage to wetlands.[12]
In the 1990s the park became a popular hangout for gay men, resulting in a crackdown by the Polk County Sheriff's department that culminated in a sting operation in which 30 people were arrested.[13]
In 2017, the park was opened to commercial fishing.[14]
Activities
edit- Fishing
- Boating
- Hiking
- Camping
- Soliciting
References
edit- ^ "Home". saddlecreekpark.com.
- ^ "Polk County". Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ "Saddle Creek Park". Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ "Saddle Creek Park". Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ Vickers, Larry (May 19, 1966). "Saddle Creek is Becoming Polk's Outdoor Playground". Tampa Tribune. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ "State offers to aid Saddle Creek Park". The Tampa Times. 2 July 1979. p. 24.
- ^ "Saddle Creek Park Tragedy man and boy drown". The Tampa Tribune. 8 April 1986. p. 60.
- ^ "Saddle Creek Park gets live-in protection". The Tampa Tribune. 2 November 1982. p. 57.
- ^ Schmidt, Cheryl Nordby (October 10, 1985). "Controversial rezonings approved by board". Tampa Tribune. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ Schmit, Cheryl Nordby (July 24, 1985). "Commissioners OK Development". Tampa Tribune. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ "Saddle Creek Park Pok County zoning". The Tampa Tribune. 13 June 1985. p. 61.
- ^ Schmidt, Cheryl Nordby (January 7, 1986). "Group to protest development adjacent to park". Tampa Tribune. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
- ^ "Saddle Creek Park Sex Sting gay men". The Tampa Tribune. 6 January 1996. p. 51.
- ^ "Saddle Creek Park opened to commercial fishing". Port Charlotte Sun. 8 March 2017. pp. PCD8.