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Transforming an abandoned rail yard into an ecological jewel, a cultural magnet, and a connected community asset for a rapidly growing region

Bonnet Springs Park

Client
Bonnet Springs Park, Inc.
Location
Lakeland, FL
Size
168 acres
Photographer
Jeremy Bittermann, Matthew Arielly
Services
Civil Engineering
Landscape Architecture
Additional Services
Architecture
Community Engagement
Ecology
Graphic Design
Interior Design
Planning and Urban Design
Status
Completed October 2022
Awards
American Society of Landscape Architecture (ASLA) Colorado/Wyoming Chapter, President’s Award of Excellence in General Design Category
The PLAN Awards – Shortlist, Landscape category
Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest District, Environmental Stewardship Achievement Award

Between 1880 and the early 1950s, the 168-acre Bonnet Springs Park site was home to the Lakeland Railyard, which served as a major hub for the movement of freight up and down the east coast. In 1952 the railyard closed, leaving the land in an abandoned state and Lake Bonnet all but forgotten.

Then in 2015, recognizing that metro Lakeland is one of the fastest growing regions in the country, and building upon the city’s strong tradition of parks and natural areas, a group of Lakeland enthusiasts proposed the creation of Bonnet Springs Park—a central park for Lakeland.

In 2017 the Bonnet Springs Park board hired Sasaki to create a master plan for the park. Sasaki took input from the public during a six-month outreach period and incorporated ideas and desires into an approved design and park mission: to become an ecological jewel, a cultural magnet, and a connected community asset.

Sasaki’s park design includes heritage gardens, a canopy walk, boating activities, botanic gardens, playgrounds, and an event lawn. New walking and biking paths connect major park spaces with new buildings designed by Sasaki: Welcome Center, Nature Center, Event Center, and the Florida Children’s Museum and CafĂ©.

An Ecological Jewel

Decades of industrial use and outdated stormwater management practices left portions of the site in a degraded condition, and the brownfield status was a primary factor that influenced the design process. Sasaki’s interdisciplinary team, along with a group of local consultants, developed strategies for restoring natural systems and remediating harmful contaminants on the site. The remediation strategy included the removal of invasive exotic plants, constructing wetlands and bioswales to treat runoff, and capping contaminated soil in large hills that double as overlooks for the park.

In other parts of the site, mature live oak trees and meandering waterways are protected and enhanced. A Nature Center is located at the nexus of these environments overlooking Lake Bonnet where park visitors have the opportunity to learn about the ecology of central Florida. The Nature Center features a classroom and exhibition space as well as a café and boat rental facilities.

A Cultural Magnet

The park’s downtown location creates a prime opportunity to build upon Lakeland’s tradition of hosting renowned cultural and educational institutions and furthering the city’s commitment to supporting the arts. Interpretive exhibits at the Welcome Center highlight the region’s agricultural, industrial and cultural history, and outdoor spaces feature an extensive botanic garden as well as the integration of fixed and ephemeral works of art throughout the park. Most notably, the Florida Children’s Museum has relocated into an expanded facility at the heart of Bonnet Springs Park and participates in the development of educational and cultural programming for the entire park.

A Connected Community Asset

Bonnet Springs Park welcomes visitors of all ages and backgrounds from throughout the city and connects neighborhoods currently divided by transportation infrastructure and a gap in the urban fabric. New walking and bike paths, welcoming entrances, and the integration of transit allows the park to be easily accessible from near and far. The park also serves as a place to connect people socially with gathering facilities such as a large banquet hall at the Event Center, a state of the art classroom in the Nature Center, and a large central event lawn for concerts and festivals. Smaller gathering spaces such as a tree house, tea house, and nature playground help bring people closer to the daily magic of the park. The range of activities in the park supports physical and social equity for all visitors in an effort to reinforce shared experiences and forge new connections within this growing and changing community.

Learn more about the park design and see opening day below!

For more information contact Zachary Chrisco, Andrew Gutterman or Anna Cawrse.

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