Behind the scenes with President Bill Tinsley
Each day in Bonnet Springs Park brings special memories. Watching an elegant Egret as it fishes in the Blanton Family Lagoon or watching the bees with their wings fluttering as they fly by reminds those of us that have the privilege of working here daily of the wonderful experiences to come. As with all major projects, the last 25 percent towards completion seems to take the longest, but also brings the greatest rewards as the vision gets closer to reality.
The past month’s activities have focused on finishing out the Depot Café building and the Florida Children’s Museum. The first level of the Museum is getting final wall and ceiling finishes in preparation for the exciting new exhibits expected to start arriving in early May. This build-out will bring to life the exciting opportunities planned by the dedicated team at the museum to provide a world-class experience for our youth that are from Lakeland and far beyond. Behind the scenes, the leadership team from Bonnet Springs Park is planning menus and programs to make your experience unforgettable.


The Bonnet Springs Boulevard entrance continues to progress with new signals and additional turn lanes. This work will be followed by final top coatings of the interior roads and pathways. Irrigation installation is progressing with only a few zones awaiting completion and is running parallel with the final plantings in the Springs valley corridor, around the buildings, and in the nearly completed GiveWell Community Foundation Nature Center and Ann and Ward Edwards Boathouse.
The water of the Blanton Family Lagoon continues to improve as final re-dredging is in progress, aided by the vegetation on the slopes of the Park. The Blanton Family Lagoon is a real focal point in the Park as it serves as the water source for 100% of the irrigation in the Park utilizing the reclaimed off-site stormwater, and its natural beauty and native habitat are breathtaking. The trucks continue to arrive daily with new equipment that will make the total park experience comfortable and enjoyable.

Shade structures, water fountains, play equipment, trash receptacles, picnic tables, exercise equipment, and seating, all combine to make sure you can maximize your experience on your visit. We are embracing the next few months as mother nature will give us a season of growth which will result in the maturing of the thousands of plants and trees preparing for your first trip to Bonnet Springs Park.

Behind the scenes with CEO Josh Henderson
The construction process of BSP has been an interesting challenge, to say the least. Starting with an abandoned rail yard was a major undertaking in itself, adding in a global pandemic and all of the associated ramifications have made a monumental task…even more monumental! Rodda Construction and our own construction team have done a tremendous job. We aren’t quite done yet, but we are getting very close.
We will have some big announcements to make very soon. Make sure you are following our social media pages and website for all the latest information. The excitement is building at Bonnet Springs Park and for very good reason. Stay tuned!

Harrell Family Botanical Garden Tour 🌿

What better way to celebrate National Garden Month than a tour of the Harrell Family Botanical Garden?! In April, we toured this magnificent Garden that will engage all five of your senses. From the fragrance of blooming flowers to the zest of limes, the Harrell Family Botanical Garden will allow you to truly escape, engage and explore the beauty of our Park.
National Volunteer Appreciation Month & UWCF Day of Caring 🌿

Bonnet Springs Park’s mission to enrich the community through nature, culture, recreation and education simply would not be possible without our incredible volunteers. From cleaning up the Park to serving on our committees and boards, BSP is truly grateful for the hundreds of volunteers who serve our Park. April served as National Volunteer Appreciation Month, but here at Bonnet Springs Park we love to celebrate our volunteers year round!
We also had the honor of hosting United Way of Central Florida for their 2022 Day of Caring! Their group, Women United, rolled up their sleeves to pick up trash around the north end of the Park. Friends of BSP Board Member and Women United member, Kimberly Elmhorst, has been involved with the Park since day one and it is always a pleasure seeing her smile around the Park! We are immensely grateful for the continued support of organizations such as United Way of Central Florida and look forward to hosting more organizations!
Are you interested in volunteering for Bonnet Springs Park? We have a variety of opportunities for individuals and groups! Join us in unifying the city’s diverse population by registering to volunteer.


Earth Day at the Park 🌿

Bonnet Springs Park was thoughtfully designed to have a lasting and positive impact on the environment. From the 36 tons of trash that were removed from the site prior to construction, to the pollution filtration system that is implemented in our waterways, we want to show our love for Earth every day! The Park will be a place where mother nature’s healing powers are revealed through magnificent giant oak trees and a clear gurgling stream that rises out of the earth and flows to Lake Bonnet below.
Leave Your Mark on the Park!

Looking to leave a lasting legacy at Bonnet Springs Park? We’ve got you covered! Visit our site to learn more about sponsoring engraved bricks. Purchases of bricks purchased after 9/30/21 cannot be guaranteed to be placed by the grand opening. For more information, contact Hannah at hannah@bonnetspringspark.com.

Give a Gift of Friendship!
As a Founding Friend, help us grow our membership! A Founding Friends annual household membership is ONLY $30.00. It also makes a great gift!
Give a Founding Friends 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 Park. 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.