Polk County is getting a brand-new, multi-million dollar park.  

The park is located just off of Walker Road in the county’s northwest corner, near the intersection of Polk Parkway and Interstate 4.

  • New park cost $6 million
  • It will feature playground, softball and baseball fields, nature trail
  • Grand opening ceremony set for April 8

Crews are working seven days a week to get it ready.

The grand opening ceremony is scheduled for April 8.

“We’ve been working for almost a decade to plan this out and get it done correctly,” said Jeff Spence, the county’s Parks and Natural Resources Division director.

Spence said the first phase of the park cost around $6 million. It has a playground, softball and baseball fields, and three multipurpose fields. The county wants to hear from athletic leagues that wish to use the park.

“The next phase is planned (and) would include basketball courts and ultimately a dog park,” Spence said.

A completion date for the second phase hasn’t been set yet.

There’s also a nature trail attached to the park, which surrounds an artificial wetlands treatment area that both the county and the Southwest Florida Water Management District created.

Spence said the trail is a bird watcher’s paradise.

“I was out there this morning. We had about 40 to 50 Sandhill cranes. We had a pair of bald eagles. A lot of wild life in the area,” Spence said.   

Folks living in the rural area were already visiting the trail.

“I love it. I love it. It’s going to be great for the area. The pond area for the kids and my husband to go fishing,” said Denise Chesnut, who lives minutes away.

She did have one concern.

“Probably the traffic down Walker Road is going to be our main concern. It’s always been a quiet area. That’s ok because it brings a lot of revenue to this area. It’ll be great,” Chesnut said.   ​