November Park Update
Behind the scenes with President Bill Tinsley
Mother Nature has begun to smile. The month of October was relatively dry, following a summer filled with rain events. It has been rewarding to be able to follow the installation of miles of pipes that will carry water, sewer, electricity, and fiber throughout the site. This work will continue into January, at which point road and parking lot construction will commence.
Perhaps the two most visually and exciting elements in construction during this month have been the erection of the steel for the Event Center and, most recently, the installation of the framework for the Harrell Family Greenhouse. Both buildings, located on the north end of the Park site, can be easily seen from Memorial Boulevard. Although over a year of construction remains, one cannot help jumping ahead to a time when we are able to have after-school adventures in the Greenhouse. A program where children can receive a bag of seeds from our Master Gardener, propagate them in the adjacent potting shed, and install in the Greenhouse. When appropriate, these plants can be moved to the edible gardens in the Harrell Family Botanical Gardens for show and maturing. When the time is right, a qualified local chef can lead this learning opportunity by teaching the correct harvest and cooking methods for a family meal with the students and their families. So many great educational experiences are ahead at Bonnet Springs Park for us all.
As we have spent almost five years working to reverse the historical impacts of the former Lakeland Rail Yard, we are starting to sense the myriad of opportunities that will be provided by this 168-acre site where beauty and excellence in art and horticulture will thrive.
Bonnet Springs Park Receives Gift from David Jenkins
Bonnet Springs Park announces gift for Outdoor Kitchen and Rooftop Garden
David Jenkins, the youngest son of Publix founder George W. Jenkins, announced a generous legacy gift to honor his parents’ philanthropic spirit. The George W. Jenkins Outdoor Kitchen and Anne MacGregor Jenkins Rooftop Garden are set to open at Bonnet Springs Park. “Carol and I are so happy David has chosen to give back to the community where he grew up. David recognizes that this great Park will be one of Central Florida’s greatest assets,” said Bonnet Springs Park Board Chairman Barney Barnett.
The George W. Jenkins Outdoor Kitchen is nestled within the Harrell Family Botanical Gardens adjoining the Bonnet Springs Park state-of-the-art Event Center. The Park’s Event Center will be the perfect location to host weddings, family reunions, and corporate events for up to 400 guests. “We are grateful for David’s continued support of his home town. These two special event spaces will provide unique opportunities to celebrate,” said Bill Tinsley, President of Bonnet Springs Park.
The Anne MacGregor Jenkins Rooftop Garden sits above the Café adjacent to the Explorations V Children’s Museum. Indoor and outdoor seating is available for up to 200 guests, though private dining is also available. The Rooftop overlooks the Great Lawn and is accessible directly from the Clyne Family North Mountain.
To learn more, read the full press release here.
National First Responders Day
Friends of Bonnet Springs Park visit Lakeland fire departments
In honor of National First Responders Day on October 28th, we celebrated our firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and police officers for the sacrifice they make each and every day to keep our community safe. Our Friends of Bonnet Springs Park Board had a wonderful time visiting our Lakeland Fire Departments to share delicious cookies from Frescos as a small token of our appreciation. Thank you first responders for continuously being selfless and compassionate heroes we can always count on.
Lakeland Vision, Inc.
Our Community. Our Future. Our Vision.
We are thankful for organizations in our community such as Lakeland Vision, Inc. This incredible organization helps to identify community strengths and weaknesses in order to create and implement a comprehensive, action-oriented plan for the future of the metro Lakeland area. The plan was developed with diverse and broad-based community input and addresses the following focus areas:
- Strong and Safe Neighborhoods
- Jobs for a Vibrant Economy
- Lifelong Education
- Activities for a Diverse Community
We are proud to mention we are meeting countless of these vision goals at Bonnet Springs Park! We can’t wait to see all the positive impacts the Park will have on our community.
Learn more about Lakeland Vision, Inc. here.
Leave Your Mark on the Park!
Get ahead on planning those holiday gifts! Looking to give the gift of a lasting legacy at Bonnet Springs Park? We’ve got you covered! Visit our site to learn more about sponsoring engraved bricks and benches.
As a Founding Friend, help us grow our membership!
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.