PLANT CITY- Mike Cassell loves his job as manager of Edward Medard Park and Reservoir, a 1,284-acre site in eastern Hillsborough County he characterizes as a haven for nature lovers eager to escape the hustle and bustle of their everyday lives.
"It's peaceful and it's a perfect place for people of all ages to enjoy the outdoors, whether it be boating, canoeing, kayaking, hiking or horseback riding or picnicking under one of our shelters," he said.
Fishing and bird watching are also popular pastimes at the park, originally a Cargill phosphate mining site that was donated in 1969 to the Southwest Florida Water Management District and since 1972 has been maintained and developed by Hillsborough County into one of the region's largest and most popular parks.
Originally called Pleasant Grove Park and Reservoir, it was renamed in 1977 to honor a SWFWMD governing board member.
"On average we attract 1,400 to 1,500 people a week, with more in the winter than in the summer," said Cassell, noting the park is open every day year round except Christmas.
Visitors can either come for a few hours or stay for several days in one of the park's 40 electrically-equipped campsites with nearby restrooms that include showers.
About the only negative aspect people may find is that the 700-foot boardwalk and observation deck, which Cassell said were built in the early 1980s by the Florida District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is currently closed.
That's due to the damage it sustained during Hurricane Irma. About 350 feet of the structure collapsed when flooding occurred and the force of the onshore vegetation runoff into the reservoir caused several of the boardwalk's pilings to uproot.
"We would like to open up half of the boardwalk but we must wait for FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) to make a decision and get funding for the project," said Jason Chilson, section manager of Hillsborough County Conservation and Environment Lands Management.
While he and other county representatives have met several times with FEMA officials since the damage took place, Chilson said he would not speculate on what the final outcome might be.
He did, however, have some good news for persons interested in utilizing the park's campgrounds.
Likely starting in the spring of next year folks will be able to make online reservations to lock in the dates and tag specific campsites where they wish to stay.
As it stands now, the park's campsites are only rented on a first-come, first-served basis.
"The new policy will be similar to what the state parks do, and it'll make it easier for people to plan," Chilson said.
"But there will still be a select number of walk-up sites available for people who simply show up and hope to camp on the site," he added.
Cassell is very much in favor of the forthcoming change in the park's long-standing no-reservations policy.
"As it is now it makes it really hard for people who don't live nearby or can't get here when the park is open," he said.
The park is located at 6140 Turkey Creek Road in Plant City and its spring and summer hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It's open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the fall and winter months.
Visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/en/locations/edward-medard-conservation-park or call (813) 757-3802 for more information, including the Sunset Paddle program held on the third Wednesday of every month.
Contact Joyce McKenzie at hillsnews@tampabay.com