Moccasin Lake Nature Park may be one of Clearwater's best kept secrets, but with hundreds of thousands of dollars going into renovations, the secret will soon be out.
The nature park at 2750 Park Trail Ln. is a rarity for a city like Clearwater. The 51 acres of nature sit in the middle of a densely populated community. And now the park is getting a $600,000 makeover, thanks to capital improvement and grant funding.
The money will be used to update the interpretive center, where snakes and reptiles are kept, and is the ideal location to learn about native wildlife. The money will also be used to build a new pier, improve nature trails and renovate picnic facilities on the grounds.
City officials say the renovations are needed to keep up with the changing pace of how people use parks.
“We got [the park] in the 80s so it's been some time since it's had a major renovation. And the way people learn and the way people access nature is different than it was in the early '80s," said Felecia Leonard of Clearwater Parks and Recreation.
The park is also home to two injured bald eagles, six eco-systems and a number of other wildlife that can be found roaming around the property.
The second annual Honey Bee and Bonsai Festival could be a good time to check out the park. The event takes place Saturday, Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.