Visit Lettuce Lake Park In Celebration of National Park And Recreation Month

Hillsborough County invites the community to participate in National Park and Recreation Month by getting out to a natural area, park, playground, swimming pool, trail, or other public space every weekend this July. This year is particularly motivating as there are five weekends in July, giving citizens a record number of opportunities to visit a local Regional Park.

The first weekly featured park is Lettuce Lake Park, 6920 E. Fletcher Ave.

Lettuce Lake opened in 1982, and quickly became a hub of activities. The 240-acre site offers something for everyone. Wooded picnic areas and playground are family favorites. A bicycle path/jogging trail, complete with a fitness course, meander through the park. Lettuce Lake is also a haven for nature study. An interpretive center, featuring exhibits, leads to a 3,500 ft. boardwalk and an observation tower where visitors can view an extensive variety of wildlife.

One of the newest features to Lettuce Lake park is a canoe/kayak launch area, where visitors can rent a canoe/kayak and experience a whole new side of the park.

More than half of the park’s property lies in the natural floodplain of the Hillsborough River, and consists of a hardwood swamp forest. This feature provides a natural storage reservoir for floodwater and improves water quality, acting as a biological filter to remove excess nutrients from the water. The remainder of the park consists of hardwood hammocks and pine flatwoods plant communities.

Hours: Spring/Summer 8 a.m. - 7:30 p.m., Fall/Winter 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Fees:

• Entry - $2 per vehicle up to eight people/car and $1 per person over eight
• Annual Entrance Pass - $50 individual, $100 family
• Canoe/Kayak Rental - $25 up to four hours
• Classroom Rental - $20 per hour (2 hour minimum)
• Shelter Rental: $74.90 per day  

Activities: Bicycle Path, Boardwalk, Canoe/kayak Rentals, Fishing, Hiking, Nature Study, Picnic Area, Playground

Other regional parks that will be highlighted during National Park and Recreation Month include Edward Medard, E.G. Simmons, Lake Park, and the Wilderness Parks System.

For more information on Lettuce Lake Park, call (813) 987-6204; to rent a shelter, call (813) 931-RENT.