A crowd of about 75 people showed up at Colt Creek State Park to witness the groundbreaking for a new campground that will cater to RV enthusiasts.
Up until now, all of the camping had been primitive camping at a few sites within the 5,026-acre park in Green Swamp north of Lakeland.
Although a campground had always been in the park’s master plan, people credit Paula Dockery, founder of the Friends of Colt Creek State Park, for keeping it on state officials’ radar.
Tuesday’s event was attended by a crowd of state agency staff members, local elected officials and park supporters from the community.
Speaker after speaker emphasized how this project, which is expected to be completed by early next year, will expand outdoor recreation offerings in Polk County and attract more visitors to the newest local state park, which opened in 2007.
The campground site is located at the edge of an extensive pine forest with views to nearby meadows and hardwood hammocks.
It will be designed primarily to accommodate RV users, but will have a handful of primitive camping sites.