LAKELAND, Fla. — A former abandoned rail yard turned into a popular Polk County park is celebrating its first year of operations.
And during that time, Bonnet Springs Park has attracted more than 1.4 million visitors.
What You Need To Know
- Bonnet Springs Park was the brainchild of Barney Barnett and his wife Carol, the daughter of Publix Founder George Jenkins
- The park features a lagoon and elevated walkway for visitors to enjoy the landscape
- Bonnet Springs is home to the Florida Children's Museum
- PODCAST: Lakeland's new crown jewel: Bonnet Springs Park
The Lakeland park is celebrating its first birthday Saturday with a party open to the public.
It will include live music, food trucks, train rides, animal interactions and fireworks capping off the day at 9 p.m.
CEO of Bonnet Springs Josh Henderson says in its first year, the park has exceeded expectations.
“It has been an amazing first year at the park,” Henderson said. “We’ve seen 1.4 million guests from around Central Florida. We have seen school groups which you can see behind me right now.
“And it’s just hard to believe that our first birthday is this weekend.”
The park also features the Blanton Family Lagoon, a 6.5-acre lagoon which showcases the park's beauty and vegetation. (Spectrum News/Chris McDonald)
Bonnet Springs is the brainchild of Barney Barnett and his wife Carol, the daughter of Publix Founder George Jenkins.
The park features what the founders call an “elevated stroll." It’s a walking path through the park that gives visitors beautiful views of the landscape below.
The park also features a lagoon, and is home to the Florida Children’s Museum.
For more information on this weekend’s birthday bash at Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, visit Bonnet Springs Park.