Edward Medard Conservation Park
This 1,284-acre Edward Medard Conservation Park, a designated Fisheries Management Area, added to the 770-acre Reservoir, which was created along with a dike in 1970 to provide flood protection from the Alafia River, are located south of Plant City in Hillsborough County, Florida. It is one of the county’s largest regional parks and presents a wide variety of popular and beautiful sights, RV camping, and many activities for the entertainment normally for about 250,000 to 500,000 visitors each year. The residents, also, look for an untouched and scenic natural and undisturbed area in the middle of a hustle and bustle city where birds, alligators, and other wildlife are protected.
RV Camping
There are 42 campsites in the park’s Campground for RV’ers, tent, youth groups, and car campers. Each site has electricity, water, access to restrooms and showers, a fire pit, and a picnic table. Immediate access to a lake provides opportunities for boating, swimming, or fishing depending on specific rules. An RV dump station is available. No reservations are needed.
The campground. Photo credit Edward Medard Park on Facebook.
More Great Features of Edward Medard Park
- It is a grand place for a picnic or birthday party or family reunion with available protective shelters in three picnic areas with grills, tables, and restrooms.
- There are a variety of aquatic and sports activities, an 18-hole par-3 frisbee golf course, and more.
- A unique “tree playground” is a forest of trees with protruding roots where kids and adults can climb them like a jungle gym or run under them like tunnels.
- The playground is divided for older kids and younger kids with age-appropriate slides, swings, and things for climbing.
- Fishing is available along the banks of the reservoir, by boat, and on the 730-foot boardwalk fishing pier, which is ADA accessible. You can contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for the license requirements, and particular park policies may also apply.
Photo courtesy Edward Medard Park on Facebook.
- You can launch up to fairly large vessels from three long piers, although you must be aware that the lake has a no-wake restriction and advocates idle speed.
- There is a 40-foot-tall observation tower that overlooks the lake.
- The park contains several hiking trails of different difficulties depending on the hikers’ skills as well as biking and equestrian trails. There is a one-way, 3.25-mile bridle path. Florida rules say that riders must stay on the marked trails, and those under age 16 must wear helmets. Horses may be trailered in and must bring proof of the horse’s current negative Coggins test, or a horse can be rented at the adjacent Turkey Creek Stables. Water is available in the equestrian parking/staging area. Dogs are also allowed.
- This is also an exceptional park for taking photographs with its backgrounds of the large lake, a long bridge, docks, walking paths, trees, hills, benches, and outstanding scenery.
Map of Edward Medard Conservation Park courtesy of HillsoboroughCounty.org
We know you will enjoy your time spent at Edward Medard Conservation Park where there is such a wide selection of attractions and activities that appeal to all ages and which will keep visitors happy for the hours of a delightful day.
