Pasco Parks Supervisor Documents Signs Of Spring, Hope

PASCO COUNTY, FL — Amid all the fear, tension and frustration during the coronavirus pandemic, it's easy to lose sight of the beauty surrounding you in Florida.

While everyone was hunkered down at home, spring officially sprung March 19.

As befuddling as the concept of linear time might seem after six weeks of quarantine, the tilt of the Earth on its rotation around the sun means the changing of seasons remains, literally, an unstoppable force of nature. It’s worth remembering that you can — and should — get out and enjoy this season of renewal. Just keep your social distance and be safe.

As a reminder, Patch is sharing some amazing nature photos taken by Mark Berlinger, a supervisor at the Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd., New Port Richey.

Many Pasco County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources parks and facilities are open for limited recreational activities including hiking, biking, swimming and jogging.

Residents can also launch boats from county boat ramps for a day of fishing, canoeing or kayaking.

Some restroom facilities are open but all athletic fields, playgrounds, shelters and pavilions remain closed until further notice.

Here are some places now open in Pasco County where you can celebrate spring and observe Mother Nature at her finest:

• Withlacoochee River Park, 12449 Withlacoochee Blvd., Dade City, features canoe and kayak launches, fishing and an observation tower to view the area's wildlife.
• Aripeka Sandhills Preserve, 18000 Aripeka Road, Hudson, features 16 miles of hiking trails.
• Boy Scout Preserve, 4230 Green Key Road, New Port Richey, has 3 miles of hiking trails.
• Crews Lake Wilderness Park, 16739 Crews Lake Drive, Spring Hill, features an observation tower, bird houses, a paved bike path, nature trails and a botanical garden.
• Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd., New Port Richey, has 7.3 miles of paved surface for bike riding, roller blading or jogging, a 10-mile equestrian trail and 13 miles of hiking trails connecting to the Starkey Boulevard Trail and Starkey Gap Trail.
• Key Vista Nature Park, Holiday, offers strolls on the boardwalk, which connects to the Anclote Gulf Park, and hikes on a quarter-mile nature trail.
• Lake Lisa Park, 7021 Maplehurst Drive, Port Richey, features trails with fitness stations.
• Pasco Palms Preserve, 4466 Strauber Memorial Highway, New Port Richey, has a nature trail with access to native forested wetlands, salt marshes, mixed hardwood pine forests, mangrove swamps, tidal flats and six geocaches.
• Upper Pithlachascotee Preserve, 17135 Minneola Drive, Spring Hill, features five geocaches as well as 2 miles of trails including a 1,500-foot boardwalk.
• Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park and boat ramp, 6345 Clark St., Hudson, has a 200-foot swimming area and 290 feet of beach frontage with fishing access.
• Anclote River Park boat ramp, 1119 Baillies Bluff Road, Holiday, (restroom access) offers birding trails, a 300-foot swimming area and a designated fishing and boating area.
• Moon Lake Park, 8985 Lake Drive, New Port Richey, has a boat ramp where small power boats can be launched.
• Middle Lake Park, 18620 Townsend House Road, Dade City, has access to 200 acres of a freshwater lake with a fishing pier, canoe launch and a boat ramp that will accommodate up to 16-foot boats.
• Eagle Point Park, 4499 Strauber Memorial Highway, New Port Richey, has kayak and canoe launches, fishing off three docks and a shell-lined fitness trail with five fitness stations.
• The Suncoast Trail, 16175 State Road 54, Odessa, is a 42-mile paved trail that stretches from Hillsborough County through Pasco and ending in Hernando County.
• Land O' Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O' Lakes Blvd., Land O' Lakes, offers open areas to explore.
• San Antonio Athletic Complex, 12750 Oak St., San Antonio, as a half-mile fitness trail.
• Veteran's Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson, features a half-mile fitness trail with eight exercise stations. Leashed dogs are allowed.
• Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel, has a fitness trail featuring a push-up station and a dip station.
• Sunwest Park, 17362 Old Dixie Highway, Hudson, is open to existing annual pass holders only from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, offering swimming and paddle boarding.

There are also three artificial reefs located west of Gulf Harbors Channel, west of Pithlachascotee River and west of Hudson Beach that divers can explore.

Keep in mind, groups of more than 10 will not be permitted and social distancing of 6 feet will be enforced.

Related stories:

• Pasco To Reopen Select Parks With Limited Access
• Pasco County Reopens 4 More Parks
• Pasco To Reopen Sunwest Park To Existing Annual Pass Holders