About Friends of County Parks
The Friends of the County Parks, established in 1988, is a group of concerned citizens joining together to promote financial and community support to the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department. They develop public awareness of recreation as an important part of day-to-day life.
Funds provided by The Friends of the County Parks are used as a supplement to the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department budget and does not replace allocated tax dollars. These additional funds helps maintain, improve, and enhance services provided by the Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department. The Friends of the County Parks enjoys a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit exemption status.
Joel Jackson’s conservation
efforts for 50 years have had a
lasting impact on the region’s
quality of life. Recently, the
Nature Center at Lettuce Lake
Conservation Park was
renamed in his honor.
By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
I
t’s fair to say that visitors to Lettuce Lake
Conservation Park, at 6920 E. Fletcher Ave.,
in Hillsborough County, enjoy myriad as-
pects of its offerings.
Some like to hike.
Others, to watch birds.
Some are there to check out the native plants
and flowers.
Still others find pleasure in climbing to the top
of the observation tower to gaze at the scenic
views.
Families go there to picnic.
School children take field trips there, to learn.
Some visitors enjoy a stroll, or jog, along the
1.25-mile paved trail.
These are the kinds of things that Joel Jackson
envisioned when he sat down to design the park,
which marked its 40th year of operations in
October.
“I had three objectives, when I designed this
park,” Jackson said, in a recent interview.
“One, was to make it an interesting and enjoy-
able place to come visit and experience nature.
“No. 2, was environmental education.
“And three, (was to preserve it) for future gen-
erations,” Jackson said.
He started planning the conservation park, in
northeast Hillsborough County, from scratch.
“There was no park here at all. It was just a
piece of land. So, I had a blank slate here, which
was very exciting to me,” Jackson said.
Jackson paid attention to every detail: How the
land would drain, where the parking should go,
the amenities that would appeal to people of dif-
ferent ages and with diverse interests.
He wanted to be sure this was a true nature
park. The paths should meander. The parking lots
should be small, situated in different spots around
the landscape.
Indeed, it is a nature park.
The Hillsborough River runs through it, and
more than half of its acreage lies in the natural
flood plain, which consists of a hardwood swamp
forest.
The rest of the park features hardwood ham-
mocks and pine flatwoods plant communities.
There are wooded picnic areas and play-
grounds, a paved 1.5-mile exercise trail and a
3,500-foot boardwalk, with an observation tower.
Originally, the park called for 117 acres.
Jackson said that was too small, so he secured
additional funds that enabled the park size to be
doubled.
The funding source for that land also required
it to be conserved, in perpetuity.
“This land, for hundreds of years, should still be
here,” Jackson said.
JACKSON HONORED
The design of Lettuce Lake Conservation Park is
just one of many contributions Jackson made dur-
ing his career, which included stints with the City
of Tampa and Hillsborough County.
He was honored on Aug. 31, in a special cere-
mony, where the nature center at Lettuce Lake
Park was renamed the Joel E. Jackson Nature
Center.
Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise
hosted the celebration, which included remarks
from Jack Berlin, of the parks and conservation
board, and from Hillsborough County commission-
ers Harry Cohen and Mariella Smith.
Their comments were recorded in audio files
by Hillsborough County staff, provided at the re-
quest of The Laker/Lutz News.
“His accomplishments are a testament to his
unwavering service to Hillsborough County, its res-
idents and especially, its natural resources,” Wise
said, during the ceremony.
Berlin told those gathered: “It would take hours
to go over this man’s legacy. “
Even now, Berlin said: “He volunteers more
hours than I do. Still, he wows me with his vision.
“What he’s done for Hillsborough County con-
servation and the regional parks, and everything
he’s done — is permanent. It will be here for our
kids, our grandkids, our grandkids’ grandkids,”
Berlin said.
Commissioner Cohen said he became acquaint-
ed with Lettuce Lake Conservation Park when he
joined the county’s hiking spree last year.
“As a result, I went from park to park on the dif-
ferent hikes. One Sunday afternoon, I came out
here to Lettuce Lake Park, and I have to tell you, I
was blown away.
“I had never been here before and I started
coming back. And, I didn’t end up finishing the hik-
ing spree mainly because I just kept coming back
to Lettuce Lake Park, over and over and over
again,” Cohen said.
He described the park’s many attributes, includ-
ing its abundant wildlife.
“You can get a close look at some of the area’s
most striking birds, the reptiles, mammals and in-
sects, as well as colorful flowers and plants,” Cohen
said.
“You can attend a birding walk, hosted by the
Tampa Audubon Society, or a native plant tour, led
by the Suncoast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant
Society,” Cohen added.
The nature center, which now bears Jackson’s
name, offers visitors a chance to learn about all of
the flora and fauna.
“This center is a fantastic place to take children
to show them the importance of the environment
and just to have fun,” Cohen said
JACKSON’S VISION HAS
LEFT A LASTING MARK
Commissioner Smith lavished praise upon
Jackson’s many contributions to the region’s quality
of life.
“It’s a day of celebration for someone who has
dedicated his life to our county’s parks and pre-
serves, and then has continued volunteering, even
in retirement, to protecting our environment and
helping people enjoy our natural resources.
“Mr. Jackson has been an influential and distin-
guished leader of the Hillsborough County
Conservation movement since 1969, when he be-
came a founding member of Save Our Bay. This
group was formed to prevent the proposed dredg-
ing and filling of nearly 2,000 acres along the Upper
Tampa Bay shoreline.
“That Save Our Bay group kickstarted the local
environmental movement that gave birth to our
Agency on Bay Management and went on to galva-
nize efforts to protect Tampa Bay, and our wetlands
and natural resources.
“In the 1970s, Mr. Jackson became a parks and
recreation planner for the City of Tampa. After sever-
al years in this role, he was hired by Hillsborough
County to become our parks planning section man-
ager, which was a tremendous gain for our county.
“Ten years before we had an ELAPP
(Environmental Lands and Acquisition Protection
Program) to preserve our environmental lands, this
county had a parks bond program. Joel Jackson
oversaw that program, and under his very wise
stewardship, we gained several large, beautiful parks
that preserve natural areas — keeping what was
special and unique about each place, while provid-
ing access and facilities to the public to enjoy them.
“Between 1977 and 1983, Mr. Jackson managed
that $10 million parks bond program. You could do
a lot with $10 million back then.
“It established three new natural resource bay
parks, Upper Tampa Bay Park, Lettuce Lake
(Conservation) Park and Alderman’s Ford (Nature
Preserve) and renovated several others, including
E.G. Simmons (Conservation Park), Eureka Springs
(Conservation Park)
and Edward Medard
(Conservation) Park, and these are all natural won-
ders. They’re spread throughout the county and
each one is a gem, wonderfully well-planned by Joel
Jackson, to make the most of its own special charac-
teristics and to share these marvelous places with
the public.
“During this time, it became clear to Mr. Jackson
that public land acquisition was one of the few
ways to ensure long-term protection of our valu-
able, natural lands.
“His efforts to preserve the 1,500-acre Bower
tract from development in the early 1980s played a
key role in the creation of Hillsborough County’s
Environmental Lands and Acquisition and
Protection Program, that’s ELAPP.”
The ELAPP program became a model for the en-
tire state of Florida, she said.
“Mr. Jackson, congratulations. Your name is syn-
onymous with our beautiful parks and conservation
lands, and renaming this nature center here at
Lettuce Lake is a perfect tribute to you that will cer-
tainly inspire others throughout the years,” Smith
said.
Jackson was clearly moved by the outpouring of
appreciation of his work, and by the people who
showed up to honor him.
“I’m really overwhelmed today,” he said at the
event.
In a later interview, he said, he is touched by the
nature center being renamed in his honor, as well as
by the ceremony and accolades.
“I’m thrilled with it,” Jackson said. “I didn’t ask for
this, but I certainly appreciate it, and Barbara (his
wife of 53 years) and I, will cherish it for the rest of
our lives.”
The legacy of his work will go on for generations
Nationally
Recognized Orthopedic
Care
At AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, we’re moving orthopedic and
spine care forward. Using the latest innovations and minimally
invasive techniques for joint replacements and highly specialized
spine procedures, we provide comprehensive care for knees, hips
and every joint in your body.
Take your first step to feeling whole at WesleyChapelOrthoExperts.com.
Take your first steps to pain-free.
Scan the QR code
to learn more.
NOVEMBER 2, 2022
The LAKER /
INSIDE: Directories, Classifieds, Games & More
Lutz NEWS
B.C. MANION
Joel Jackson stands near the sign that signifies the nature center at Lettuce Lake Conservation Park has
been renamed in his honor.
About Lettuce Lake
Conservation Park
WHAT: Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, a 240-
acre park operated by Hillsborough County
WHERE: 6920 E. Fletcher Ave., just outside the
Tampa city limits, between Interstate 275 and the
University of South Florida
COST: Admission is $2 per vehicle; up to eight
people per vehicle.
WHEN: The park is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the
spring and summer; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the fall
and winter.
DETAILS: Lettuce Lake Conservation Park is one of
Hillsborough’s most visited parks. The Hillsborough
River runs through it, and more than half of the
park’s property lies in the natural flood plain of the
river, consisting of a hardwood swamp forest. The
rest of the park consists of hardwood hammocks
and pine flatwoods plant communities. The park
features wooded picnic areas and playgrounds,
a 1.25-mile paved exercise trail and 3,500-foot
boardwalk with an observation tower. Canoe and
kayaks rentals are available.
INFO: Call 813-987-6204.
COURTESY OF JOEL JACKSON
Joel Jackson captured this image of an osprey in
flight at Lettuce Lake Conservation Park.
COURTESY OF JOEL JACKSON
You might catch a view of an alligator, during a visit to Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, at 6920 E.
efforts for 50 years have had a
lasting impact on the region’s
quality of life. Recently, the
Nature Center at Lettuce Lake
Conservation Park was
renamed in his honor.
By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
I
t’s fair to say that visitors to Lettuce Lake
Conservation Park, at 6920 E. Fletcher Ave.,
in Hillsborough County, enjoy myriad as-
pects of its offerings.
Some like to hike.
Others, to watch birds.
Some are there to check out the native plants
and flowers.
Still others find pleasure in climbing to the top
of the observation tower to gaze at the scenic
views.
Families go there to picnic.
School children take field trips there, to learn.
Some visitors enjoy a stroll, or jog, along the
1.25-mile paved trail.
These are the kinds of things that Joel Jackson
envisioned when he sat down to design the park,
which marked its 40th year of operations in
October.
“I had three objectives, when I designed this
park,” Jackson said, in a recent interview.
“One, was to make it an interesting and enjoy-
able place to come visit and experience nature.
“No. 2, was environmental education.
“And three, (was to preserve it) for future gen-
erations,” Jackson said.
He started planning the conservation park, in
northeast Hillsborough County, from scratch.
“There was no park here at all. It was just a
piece of land. So, I had a blank slate here, which
was very exciting to me,” Jackson said.
Jackson paid attention to every detail: How the
land would drain, where the parking should go,
the amenities that would appeal to people of dif-
ferent ages and with diverse interests.
He wanted to be sure this was a true nature
park. The paths should meander. The parking lots
should be small, situated in different spots around
the landscape.
Indeed, it is a nature park.
The Hillsborough River runs through it, and
more than half of its acreage lies in the natural
flood plain, which consists of a hardwood swamp
forest.
The rest of the park features hardwood ham-
mocks and pine flatwoods plant communities.
There are wooded picnic areas and play-
grounds, a paved 1.5-mile exercise trail and a
3,500-foot boardwalk, with an observation tower.
Originally, the park called for 117 acres.
Jackson said that was too small, so he secured
additional funds that enabled the park size to be
doubled.
The funding source for that land also required
it to be conserved, in perpetuity.
“This land, for hundreds of years, should still be
here,” Jackson said.
JACKSON HONORED
The design of Lettuce Lake Conservation Park is
just one of many contributions Jackson made dur-
ing his career, which included stints with the City
of Tampa and Hillsborough County.
He was honored on Aug. 31, in a special cere-
mony, where the nature center at Lettuce Lake
Park was renamed the Joel E. Jackson Nature
Center.
Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise
hosted the celebration, which included remarks
from Jack Berlin, of the parks and conservation
board, and from Hillsborough County commission-
ers Harry Cohen and Mariella Smith.
Their comments were recorded in audio files
by Hillsborough County staff, provided at the re-
quest of The Laker/Lutz News.
“His accomplishments are a testament to his
unwavering service to Hillsborough County, its res-
idents and especially, its natural resources,” Wise
said, during the ceremony.
Berlin told those gathered: “It would take hours
to go over this man’s legacy. “
Even now, Berlin said: “He volunteers more
hours than I do. Still, he wows me with his vision.
“What he’s done for Hillsborough County con-
servation and the regional parks, and everything
he’s done — is permanent. It will be here for our
kids, our grandkids, our grandkids’ grandkids,”
Berlin said.
Commissioner Cohen said he became acquaint-
ed with Lettuce Lake Conservation Park when he
joined the county’s hiking spree last year.
“As a result, I went from park to park on the dif-
ferent hikes. One Sunday afternoon, I came out
here to Lettuce Lake Park, and I have to tell you, I
was blown away.
“I had never been here before and I started
coming back. And, I didn’t end up finishing the hik-
ing spree mainly because I just kept coming back
to Lettuce Lake Park, over and over and over
again,” Cohen said.
He described the park’s many attributes, includ-
ing its abundant wildlife.
“You can get a close look at some of the area’s
most striking birds, the reptiles, mammals and in-
sects, as well as colorful flowers and plants,” Cohen
said.
“You can attend a birding walk, hosted by the
Tampa Audubon Society, or a native plant tour, led
by the Suncoast Chapter of the Florida Native Plant
Society,” Cohen added.
The nature center, which now bears Jackson’s
name, offers visitors a chance to learn about all of
the flora and fauna.
“This center is a fantastic place to take children
to show them the importance of the environment
and just to have fun,” Cohen said
JACKSON’S VISION HAS
LEFT A LASTING MARK
Commissioner Smith lavished praise upon
Jackson’s many contributions to the region’s quality
of life.
“It’s a day of celebration for someone who has
dedicated his life to our county’s parks and pre-
serves, and then has continued volunteering, even
in retirement, to protecting our environment and
helping people enjoy our natural resources.
“Mr. Jackson has been an influential and distin-
guished leader of the Hillsborough County
Conservation movement since 1969, when he be-
came a founding member of Save Our Bay. This
group was formed to prevent the proposed dredg-
ing and filling of nearly 2,000 acres along the Upper
Tampa Bay shoreline.
“That Save Our Bay group kickstarted the local
environmental movement that gave birth to our
Agency on Bay Management and went on to galva-
nize efforts to protect Tampa Bay, and our wetlands
and natural resources.
“In the 1970s, Mr. Jackson became a parks and
recreation planner for the City of Tampa. After sever-
al years in this role, he was hired by Hillsborough
County to become our parks planning section man-
ager, which was a tremendous gain for our county.
“Ten years before we had an ELAPP
(Environmental Lands and Acquisition Protection
Program) to preserve our environmental lands, this
county had a parks bond program. Joel Jackson
oversaw that program, and under his very wise
stewardship, we gained several large, beautiful parks
that preserve natural areas — keeping what was
special and unique about each place, while provid-
ing access and facilities to the public to enjoy them.
“Between 1977 and 1983, Mr. Jackson managed
that $10 million parks bond program. You could do
a lot with $10 million back then.
“It established three new natural resource bay
parks, Upper Tampa Bay Park, Lettuce Lake
(Conservation) Park and Alderman’s Ford (Nature
Preserve) and renovated several others, including
E.G. Simmons (Conservation Park), Eureka Springs
(Conservation Park)
and Edward Medard
(Conservation) Park, and these are all natural won-
ders. They’re spread throughout the county and
each one is a gem, wonderfully well-planned by Joel
Jackson, to make the most of its own special charac-
teristics and to share these marvelous places with
the public.
“During this time, it became clear to Mr. Jackson
that public land acquisition was one of the few
ways to ensure long-term protection of our valu-
able, natural lands.
“His efforts to preserve the 1,500-acre Bower
tract from development in the early 1980s played a
key role in the creation of Hillsborough County’s
Environmental Lands and Acquisition and
Protection Program, that’s ELAPP.”
The ELAPP program became a model for the en-
tire state of Florida, she said.
“Mr. Jackson, congratulations. Your name is syn-
onymous with our beautiful parks and conservation
lands, and renaming this nature center here at
Lettuce Lake is a perfect tribute to you that will cer-
tainly inspire others throughout the years,” Smith
said.
Jackson was clearly moved by the outpouring of
appreciation of his work, and by the people who
showed up to honor him.
“I’m really overwhelmed today,” he said at the
event.
In a later interview, he said, he is touched by the
nature center being renamed in his honor, as well as
by the ceremony and accolades.
“I’m thrilled with it,” Jackson said. “I didn’t ask for
this, but I certainly appreciate it, and Barbara (his
wife of 53 years) and I, will cherish it for the rest of
our lives.”
The legacy of his work will go on for generations
Nationally
Recognized Orthopedic
Care
At AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, we’re moving orthopedic and
spine care forward. Using the latest innovations and minimally
invasive techniques for joint replacements and highly specialized
spine procedures, we provide comprehensive care for knees, hips
and every joint in your body.
Take your first step to feeling whole at WesleyChapelOrthoExperts.com.
Take your first steps to pain-free.
Scan the QR code
to learn more.
NOVEMBER 2, 2022
The LAKER /
INSIDE: Directories, Classifieds, Games & More
Lutz NEWS
B.C. MANION
Joel Jackson stands near the sign that signifies the nature center at Lettuce Lake Conservation Park has
been renamed in his honor.
About Lettuce Lake
Conservation Park
WHAT: Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, a 240-
acre park operated by Hillsborough County
WHERE: 6920 E. Fletcher Ave., just outside the
Tampa city limits, between Interstate 275 and the
University of South Florida
COST: Admission is $2 per vehicle; up to eight
people per vehicle.
WHEN: The park is open 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., in the
spring and summer; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., in the fall
and winter.
DETAILS: Lettuce Lake Conservation Park is one of
Hillsborough’s most visited parks. The Hillsborough
River runs through it, and more than half of the
park’s property lies in the natural flood plain of the
river, consisting of a hardwood swamp forest. The
rest of the park consists of hardwood hammocks
and pine flatwoods plant communities. The park
features wooded picnic areas and playgrounds,
a 1.25-mile paved exercise trail and 3,500-foot
boardwalk with an observation tower. Canoe and
kayaks rentals are available.
INFO: Call 813-987-6204.
COURTESY OF JOEL JACKSON
Joel Jackson captured this image of an osprey in
flight at Lettuce Lake Conservation Park.
COURTESY OF JOEL JACKSON
You might catch a view of an alligator, during a visit to Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, at 6920 E.