A serenity garden at Wekiwa Springs State Park, which will expand access and enhance the park experience for visitors with diverse abilities, is currently in the design phase and is expected to open within a year.
The design phase, which comprises of work on paths, irrigation and other hardscape elements, is beginning soon. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Florida Park Service is partnering with the Wekiva Wilderness Trust (WWT) on the serenity garden project, which cost an estimated total of $200,000-$250,000.
The DEP is providing $50,000 in funding for the joint project that WWT is managing. WWT is a nonprofit volunteer group that regularly partners with the park.
Through this project, the serenity garden will transform what is over a 1/2-acre site within the park into an innovative garden oasis that creates unique opportunities for people of all abilities to relax, explore and interact with nature.
“This is truly a pioneering effort in the advancement of equitable access to nature,” Sarafaith Pekor, project manager, was quoted as saying in a press release. “Partnerships with healthcare organizations, occupational therapists and universities are going to ensure the project’s ability to open the park to many more people and enrich lives through outreach, education and research.”
The garden will create a fully accessible environment featuring native plants, accessible winding paths, water elements, interactive exhibits, exercise areas and gathering spaces to facilitate educational programs and special events.
“Expanding access and offering a unique way for people of all ages and diverse abilities to enjoy the park is something we are very excited about,” Robert Brooks, manager of the Wekiva River Basin State Parks, said in the press release.
Other project partners include Friends of Florida State Parks; the Seminole County Master Gardener Program with University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences; occupational therapist and award-winning author Dr. Amy Wagenfeld; award-winning landscape architecture firm Dix. Hite + Partners; the engineering firm of Carnahan Proctor and Cross; and Sweetwater Oaks Gardening Club.
“The department is very excited about this project, which will provide groundbreaking opportunities for relaxation, contemplation and education,” said Gary Clark, DEP deputy secretary of land and recreation, in the press release. “Thanks to our many partners, we will be able to create inclusive experiences at the park for all visitors, including people who use wheelchairs, people with autism and those with other chronic conditions.”
On September 24, 2016, which was National Public Lands Day, 50 volunteers helped clear the ground to make way for the serenity garden’s future construction.
Because the garden site was the location of three small hotels between 1870 and 1901, the land is considered disturbed by the land park service and therefore developable.
Wekiwa Springs State Park will continue to provide a variety of recreational activities, including hiking and biking, as well as swimming in the springs.
For more information about the project, visit www.serenity-wekiwa.com.
