5 Things to Know Today

Good morning, Bloomingdale Patch.  Why not pack a picnic lunch and spend the day at one of the many parks in the area?

1. Aldermans Ford Park is a great place to spend an afternoon. Located at 100 Aldermans Ford Park Drive off State Road 39, history abounds at this park. It was one of the first fording spots on the Alafia River and for many years a popular place for political campaigning in Hillsborough County. This scenic park includes the area where the Alafia River branches into its north and south prongs. The Alafia is one of the most popular canoe spots in the state, and the park includes a modern, erosion-free canoe launch. Several picnic areas are connected by a pedestrian/bicycle loop path, and a first-hand view of the abundant plant life is available on a self-guiding nature study via accompanying boardwalk and foot bridges.

2. E.G. Simmons Park, 2401 19th Avenue, N.W., Ruskin, is a 469-acre park and preserve that has been a popular area for outdoor enthusiasts since the mid-'60s. The park has picnic areas and a campground with a beautiful waterfront view. A public beach provides visitors with a perfect setting for sunning or swimming, while a boat launch provides access to saltwater fishing and boating. The park also has fishing piers and areas for bank fishing. Bird watching is also a popular pastime among the shallow waters of the surrounding mangrove swamps.

Park entry is $2 per vehicle up to eight people/car and $1 per person over eight. Boat launch fee is $5 per boat.

3. Edward Medard Park, 6140 Turkey Creek Road, Plant City, formerly known as Pleasant Grove, is located on a reservoir operated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The reservoir is one of the most popular freshwater fishing spots in Hillsborough County, and the improved boat launching facilities easily handle the flurry of county anglers. Medard also includes camping, picnic areas, equestrian trails, and a fishing pier/ boardwalk that leads to an observation tower on a small island within the reservoir. The park is 1,281 in acres.

Note: the reservoir is currently drained for maintenance.

Park entry is $2 per vehicle up to eight people/car and $1 per person over eight.

4. Eureka Springs Park, 6400 Eureka Springs Road, Tampa, was developed into a botanical garden of rare and unusual plants as a result of many years of work by Albert Greensburg, who donated the site to Hillsborough County in 1967. The 31-acre park, the only botanical garden in the park system, features a greenhouse, trellised walks, interpretive trails, boardwalks and a picnic area.

The daily rental fee for the Eureka Springs pavilion is $150.

Park entry is $2 per vehicle up to eight people/car and $1 per person over eight.

5. Lithia Springs Park, 3932 Lithia Springs Road, Lithia is a 160-acre park located on the Alafia River. It offers varied plant communities, river cypress swamps, hardwood hammocks and high sand hills that provide terrain not often seen in Hillsborough County. The park’s major attraction is the natural spring that provides an excellent swimming experience since the water temperature remains at 72 degrees year around. In addition to swimming, there is a bath house, playground and picnic facilities. Lithia Springs is also a popular camping spot with 40 sites and two shower houses.

The campground office always closes one hour earlier than the remainder of the park, so please arrive no later than one hour prior to closing time in order to have the best chance of securing a camping spot.

Park entry is $2 per vehicle up to eight people/car and $1 per person over eight. Swimming is $2 per person.