Withlacoochee River Park is larger by about 40 acres, following Pasco County’s purchase of additional conservation land at the park’s entrance.
The county’s Environmental Land Acquisition Management Program, known as ELAMP, recently purchased the property on Auton Road for about $132,000.
Plans for the new acreage aren’t certain, but some ideas are being considered.
One possibility is to create an equestrian camp and the use of an existing building on site for 4-H classes.
“All of the uses will be passive in nature,” said Angela Fagan, program manager for Pasco’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department.
A portion of the newly purchased land is within the Withlacoochee River Ecological Planning Unit, which provides buffers to wildlife habitats along the river and in the Green Swamp.
The county’s land conservation program purchases properties with funds partly from the Penny for Pasco taxes. About 25 properties are currently on the program’s acquisition list.
So far, the county has acquired about 2,900 acres in conservation land.
Withlacoochee River Park is a regional park of more than 600 acres, located at 12449 Withlacoochee Blvd. It is near the Green Swamp Wilderness Preserve.
The park offers campgrounds for tents and recreational vehicles, cabins, bird-watching, canoe and kayak launches, and a fishing pier.
The Florida Trail Association maintains more than five miles of trail within the park.
For information, call Withlacoochee River Park at (352) 567-0264, or visit PascoCountyFl.net.
Published April 25, 2018
