Hardee Lakes Park

Kaley Miller, Mosaic

Hardee County’s Chamber of Commerce and Board of County Commissioners celebrated the Grand Opening of Hardee Lakes Park on Saturday, May 6. They were joined by other community leaders, area residents and families who spent the day enjoying a Butterfly Experience, fossil dig and alligator exhibit. Fishing enthusiasts also had the rare opportunity to receive tips from renowned bass fisherman Bill Dance, who was a special guest at the event.

While the grand opening party lasted just one day, Hardee Lakes Park offers year-round relaxation, recreation and abundant fishing opportunities. The lakes provide excellent largemouth bass, bluegill, redear, sunfish and black crappie weekend sport fishing.

Hardee Lakes Park Fish Management Area is managed by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission in cooperation with the Hardee County Board of County Commissioners. The area consists of four fertile lakes with irregular bottoms and a near-shore area of bulrush and pickerelweed.

Hardee Lakes Park has something in common with several other popular fishing areas in Central Florida: It was once a phosphate mine.

The park land was mined in the early 1980s, and post-mining reclamation was completed later that decade. As part of the reclamation process, wetlands within the park were constructed to provide an irregular bottom. Rich wetland topsoil -- commonly known as “muck” -- from other permitted wetlands was hauled in to provide an organic base and seed source. Twenty one species of native trees were planted across the property to give it a natural setting.

In 2000, IMC Phosphates (predecessor to Mosaic Fertilizer LLC) donated the 1,260-acre reclaimed parcel to Hardee County for use as a public park. Since there are no natural lakes in Hardee County, Mosaic’s donation provided an opportunity for local public lake access and recreational use that previously wasn't available to Hardee County residents and their surrounding area neighbors.

At the time of the donation, a conservation easement was placed on approximately 123 acres in and along the Payne Creek floodplain. This conservation easement area parallels the Payne Creek floodplain for about two miles and is part of a regional wildlife corridor.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection presented Mosaic (then IMC) and the park with its Outstanding Ecosystem Project award for 2000. Florida Sportsman magazine featured the park’s abundant fishing opportunities in its July 2004 issue.

Hardee Lakes Park is located north of S.R. 62 on C.R. 663 and then west on Ollie Roberts Road. Hardee Lakes Park brochure. Contact Hardee County Parks and Recreation Department at 863/773-3419 for more information; for boat fishing reservations call 863/773-6788. Visit www.PhosphateFlorida.com to learn more about reclamation.