The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board Tuesday approved a management agreement that will allow the Sumter County Parks and Recreation Department to develop a 70-acre park within the District’s Lake Panasoffkee project area.
The agreement will allow the county to construct and maintain a park that will primarily be used for living history events and displays like a Native American village and pioneer settlement structures. There will also be facilities for the camping associated with pow wows and settlement era re-enactments.
The park will also be used for hiking, picnicking, horseback riding and nature study.
As part of the 40-year management agreement, the county will be responsible for developing the park site and must receive the District’s approval for the development of all public use facilities. The county will also be responsible for the maintenance and security of the park. The District will retain access rights and the option to participate in management of the tract with the county. The agreement also includes an option to renew.
The Lake Panasoffkee project area encompasses 9,911 acres along the eastern shore of Lake Panasoffkee. It was acquired between 1990 and 1997 to preserve the lake’s vast floodplain forest. The land also preserves pine flatwoods, freshwater marshes and oak scrub forest.