Bonnet Springs Park announces gift from Hollis Family for flagship Welcome Center
The Hollis Family, one of the most philanthropic families of Lakeland, announced a generous legacy gift today to fund the Bonnet Springs Park Welcome Center, set to open in 2021. First impressions are lasting impressions, especially for first-time visitors of Bonnet Springs Park. The two-story, 14,670 square-foot building will be the first of many to be built on the former Lakeland railyard site of 180 acres.
“Lakeland has been very important to our family for over one hundred years, and this is another opportunity for our family to be involved in this transformational project for the city of Lakeland, where our community has sought to improve our landscape. We are fortunate to be able to be involved with such a project,” said Lynn Hollis.
The Hollis Family Welcome Center is the flagship building for the park and the first of many beautifully designed spaces that visitors will first encounter upon arrival at Bonnet Springs Park. Hollis Family Welcome Center will feature a full-service restaurant with a chef-driven menu, regionally relevant selections, and contemporary food options that create the opportunity for a one-of-a-kind dining experience. The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner in an elegant and comfortable destination setting with views to the AgAmerica Heritage Gardens. The second floor of the Hollis Family Welcome Center will feature an exhibition space and administrative offices. The exhibit space will highlight Florida’s citrus legacy and the history of the railroad, prior to its reclamation by Bonnet Springs Park, the rail yard was the economic engine for the growth of Polk County in the late 1800’s, and the largest train repair yard in the state of Florida.
“The Hollis Family name is synonymous with generosity, vision for the community, and bringing beauty and well being to Lakeland. Their participation in this legacy park continues this storied history,” said Bill Tinsley, CEO of Bonnet Springs Park.
Bonnet Springs Park aims to enrich the community by combining and promoting the use of nature, culture, recreation, and education in the area. The Hollis Family Welcome Center will support the community by providing a space to escape, engage, and explore the area all while visitors learn about the extraordinary history of Central Florida’s founding industries.
About Bonnet Springs Park
Bonnet Springs Park is a blended urban/natural 180-acre park centrally located in Lakeland, Florida. Bonnet Springs Park is designed to create spaces to escape, engage, and explore while experiencing and learning about the extraordinary history of Central Florida. The park is slated for completion in 2021. Bonnet Springs Park is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization with a mission to enrich the community through nature, culture, recreation, and education. The Park serves to unify Central Florida’s diverse population, offering public spaces that serve the needs of many by providing engaging and unique opportunities in education and recreation to residents and visitors. The vision of Bonnet Springs Park is to be a place within walking distance to our city’s urban core where art, recreation, fun, and tranquility intersect by design.
We encourage you to learn more about this one of a kind project by visiting:
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MEDIA CONTACT
Heide Evans Waldron
Bonnet Springs Park
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