Representative image of Edward Medard Park and Reservoir. (Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons)
The American Cyanamid Company donated most of the property to the Southwest Florida Water Management District in 1969. The following year, the District built a dike and control structure to impound water and establish a 700-acre reservoir. Edward Medard Park and Reservoir attracts about 500,000 visitors annually, with the reservoir serving as its main attraction, according to the Southwest Florida Water Management District. How the reservoir became a public attraction Hillsborough County came to an agreement with the Southwest Florida Water Management District in 1972 to develop the site as one of the county’s largest regional parks. At that time, the site was known as Pleasant Grove Reservoir Park until 1978, when its name was changed to honour Edward Medard, a member of the District’s governing board.
Phosphate mining reshaped the land near Plant City, Florida, during the 1960s, leaving a former industrial site that would later become a public recreation area. The development brought together two public functions of water management and outdoor recreation. The park is managed by Hillsborough County, while the dam is operated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District.
The property’s earlier use is still visible in parts of its terrain, including the hills left by mining and later planted with oak trees.
The park’s hilly area reflects remnants of the phosphate mine, and park rangers planted oak trees there more than 40 years earlier, according to a 2020 FOX 13 report. As per the FOX 13 report, the stocked reservoirs are rife with striped bass, crappie, tilapia, and catfish, as well as largemouth bass and bluegill, which has made fishing another established activity. Entry costs $2 per vehicle, covering up to eight people, and a separate $5 fee applies for boat launch, while camping and some rentals cost additional charges, according to Hillsborough County. The opening varies based on season: in spring and summer, the park operates from 8 am to 7 pm, while during autumn and winter, its opening hours are from 8 am to 6 pm.
Because the whole point of creating the reservoir was arguably to reclaim the mine site rather than provide full protection against major floods, this distinction is critical.
Nevertheless, according to the District, the reservoir’s flood-control contribution is quite limited, and it’s more suited to handling smaller storms. By retaining water in the former mining area, this infrastructure established the lake that underpins the park’s recreational activities. The surrounding hills also point to the site’s history. Representative image of Edward Medard Park Lake. (Image Credits: Wikimedia Commons) Trails, fishing and recreational facilities The reservoir consists of only one part of what the park has to offer for recreational activities. Hillsborough County has a three-mile trail that leads through pine flatwoods and hardwood hammocks, and it is often frequented by hikers, equestrians, and birdwatchers. When visitors bring their own horses, they utilise the equestrian route since the county does not provide rentals. In addition, Alligators also inhabit the reservoir, making their presence relevant to people fishing or spending time near the water. Additional facilities include a disc golf course, camping areas, picnic shelters, a playground, and a beach volleyball court, while a boardwalk fishing pier leads towards an observation tower overlooking the reservoir. These amenities allow visitors to use the park for activities that do not depend on boating or fishing, and provide places to walk, gather, or observe the surrounding landscape. The reservoir remains central to the park’s activities, while the dam continues to serve a water-management role. You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.
