Enhancements at Wekiwa Springs State Park
On August 24, Wekiwa Springs State Park hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the repair of its spring bulkhead and construction of an ADA children’s swim area. APD Central Region Community Supports Manager Reed Stephan attended on behalf of the agency.
The new swim area was built to include a curb wall, base, sand bottom, safety rope and floats, ADA-accessible entrance areas and grabrails, bulkhead repairs, and a new sidewalk leading to the bridge area.
Visitors to Wekiwa Springs State Park now have access to a new and improved swim area designed to provide a more visible and safe entry point to the spring, especially for guests with young children. Visitors with disabilities can now access an ADA ramp and steps to enter the new children’s swim area. Additionally, swimmers farther down in the spring will benefit from a reinforced sheet pile bulkhead that provides both structural stability and an improved recreation area.
APD Central Region Community Supports Manager Reed Stephan said, “The refurbished swimming area at the springs, along with the specialized lift chair and new accessible swimming zone for children are a tremendous asset to our state. These enhanced features provide a fabulous opportunity for the individuals the Agency for Persons with Disabilities serves to access this true Florida treasure at Wekiwa Springs State Park, as well as participate and enjoy with all the members of the community. Our agency is excited to see these wonderful improvements at the park.”
Wekiwa Springs State Park, located about 20 minutes north of Orlando, sits on 7,800 acres of scrub, flatwood, sandhill, and wetland environments. The park is home to the headwater of the Wekiva River, itself the confluence of the Wekiwa Springs Run (flowing from the nearby spring) and Rock Springs Run from the northeast. The greater park property provides visitors with opportunities to hike, bike, and ride horseback, and views of pristine habitats. Species like the Florida black bear, American alligator, Sherman’s fox squirrel, wild turkey, sandhill crane, gopher tortoise and white-tailed deer are some of the many that can be seen throughout the park.
Wekiwa Springs is a second-magnitude spring—the term “magnitude” refers to the number of gallons put out by a spring each day—and has a daily flow of 42 million gallons. Due to its mostly sandy bottom, the spring’s water has an emerald green appearance and stays a refreshing 72 degrees Fahrenheit year-round. The main swimming area that contains the spring is a kidney-shaped, 200-foot-by-100-foot pool reinforced by retaining walls and bulkheads around its edge; the spring bottom is an average of five feet deep, making it a popular swimming destination for individuals and families from around the world. Adjacent to the swim area is a large grass-covered hillside, which can be seen overflowing with sunbathing visitors on one of the park’s bustling summer days.
The new swim area was built to include a curb wall, base, sand bottom, safety rope and floats, ADA-accessible entrance areas and grabrails, bulkhead repairs, and a new sidewalk leading to the bridge area.
Visitors to Wekiwa Springs State Park now have access to a new and improved swim area designed to provide a more visible and safe entry point to the spring, especially for guests with young children.
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