Lake Park Reopening Date Set After Sinkhole Prompted Closing

LUTZ, FL — Tampa Bay area residents who have been missing the outdoor fun at Lake Park have some good news on the horizon. Hillsborough County announced the park will reopen to the public on Thursday, Oct. 6.

The 17302 N. Dale Mabry Park will resume operations between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily.

Lake Park closed to the public in December 2015 after a sinkhole formed along one of the park’s main roads. Ardaman & Associates Inc. was contracted to conduct a geophysical study after the incident to assess sinkhole risk throughout the park, the county said in a media release.

The report “found the overall risk of future sinkhole activity to be ‘low,’ but the report did not definitively rule out possible future sinkhole activity,” the release said. “After reviewing the report and continuing to monitor conditions within the park, Hillsborough County staff concurred with the report’s findings.”

The 589-acre park is owned by the City of St. Petersburg and leased to Hillsborough County for recreational use. Representatives from the two government entities recently met and decided the park could reopen pending “the installation of additional layers of fencing and locked gates to secure and prevent access to the sinkhole and affected road section,” the county noted.

The county is continuing to work on a new lease agreement with the City of St. Petersburg. The current agreement continues through July 2019.

Lake Park features hiking trails, a playground, walking trails, canoe rentals and more. To find out more, visit the county online.

Photos courtesy of Hillsborough County