Building Sustainably at Bonnet Springs Park At the core of Bonnet Springs Park’s mission is to create a resilient ecological gem for the Lakeland community. Beyond healing the polluted soils and waterways, the new park structures will support efficient and responsible park operations long into the future. The four major buildings in the park will operate as primary income generators and will likewise be the more significant consumers of energy.
Bonnet Springs Park has its wings and is soaring toward opening in late 2020. Land clearing and testing are obvious on the 180-acre site, but the beehive of activity is occurring in the labs and workrooms of about 20 consultants and planners. They are plotting answers to everything from acoustics to zero footprints (that’s A to Z and all between), all intended to ensure that this park for everyone touches all the bases to become the great park envisioned. An important element of its early success is community engagement.
August has been an extremely busy month of engagement. We have held focus group meetings and tours, yielding new and exciting information to support our mission. Focus on food service, public art, solar energy, and educational programming have been validated through a wonderful collection of potential volunteers and supporters who share our vision for the park.