The Lagoon Experience
Behind the scenes with Bill Tinsley, CEO
Watching the creation of Bonnet Springs Park’s 6.5 acre Lagoon as it was carved skillfully from the disturbed wetlands on the eastern shore of Lake Bonnet has been a wonderful opportunity. Substantially completed two weeks ago, it has already reached its operational fill level at an elevation of 144 feet above sea level. The low volume seep springs of Bonnet Springs Valley are providing clear, fresh water to the system even now in our driest season of the year.
The newly created habitat is already attracting a myriad of wildlife as mother nature isn’t waiting for the native aquatic vegetation that is to be planted on the lagoon perimeter. Planting mixes for this area have been carefully selected to provide food sources that are attractive to native species and have beneficial nutrient uptake in what will clearly be one of the parks greatest assets. Clusters of Cypress and Bay trees will provide new nesting habitat as will the native shrubs and aquatic plants at the water’s edge.
We are awaiting final submittals and conformance drawings on the system that will separate the FDOT drainage through the property and allow us to slow down and clean this water before entering the lagoon. Work is anticipated to start in mid-March on this all-important infrastructure. Also scheduled in this time frame is the installation of the perimeter plantings. Creating a new place where mother nature can show off her beauty and best qualities in a sustainable environment is the vision of the BSP team.
It takes little imagination to see how a kayak paddle slipping almost silently in the water to propel us around the island of the lagoon will soon reveal why Bonnet Springs Park is Central Florida’s place to “Escape, Engage and Explore.”
Build the Future Exhibit presented by The Lunz Group
Build the Future is a temporary exhibit at Explorations V Children’s Museum, opening March 9th, with the purpose to engage children in the creative design process of planning for the new facility at Bonnet Springs Park. The exhibit is split into two primary sections: design & build. On the design side, children will use tracing tables, 3D objects, cardboard, magnets, and other recyclable materials to design structures or exhibit ideas. They will document their ideas and “mail” them to the exhibit developers for consideration in the exhibit design. On the build side, children will build a replica park complete with trees and the twin mountains at Bonnet Springs Park. Pieces are movable as they construct their own ideas.
Local Artist Features Bonnet Springs Depot in Explorations V Children’s Museum Mural!
Local artist, Bump Galletta, was recently commissioned to create a mural for Explorations V Children’s Museum! Peep the Bonnet Springs Depot feature that made its way in amongst the other iconic elements of Lakeland! So much talent and creativity exists in our community and we’re thrilled to be included as the future home of Explorations V Children’s Museum. Awesome job, Bump!
A Founding Friends household membership is ONLY $30.00. It also makes a great gift!
Give a Founding Friend membership as a birthday, graduation or wedding gift! Be an advocate for the park and be sure to tell people everywhere that you go about the great work that is being done to bring this amazing resource to the community. There are still so many people who haven’t yet heard about Bonnet Springs. Be sure to tell your friends, acquaintances, co-workers and fellow members at the organizations where you belong, such as PTA, sports teams, church groups, social and civic clubs to go to www.bonnetspringspark.com and become a Founding Friend!
Founding Friends is a unique group of individuals and families who have demonstrated their support of Bonnet Springs Park prior to the Grand Opening.
