A WATER WONDER

Beyond offering a natural environment for the community’s enjoyment, the Ocala Wetland Recharge Park is an innovative means for improving our water supply.

// BY MELISSA PETERSON

The City of Ocala recently completed construction for the new conservation area known as the Ocala Wetland Recharge Park. Opening in September, the project broke ground in June 2018 and o ers 60 acres of conservation area and greenspace for the west side of Ocala.

While the Ocala Wetland Recharge Park features educational kiosks, two and a half miles of walking trails and scenic boardwalks, its main purpose is to reduce nutrients and other pollutants in the water it receives, which comes to approximately 3 million gallons of treated wastewater and stormwater daily. This newly polished water will then recharge or give water directly back to the aquifer.

“Treatment wetlands, like this one, are still considered innovative but are increasing in popularity throughout the state,” says Rachel Slocumb, water resources conservation coordinator with the City of Ocala. “The purpose is to take stormwater or treated wastewater, send it to the park and let the wetland system trap contaminants and reduce the nutrients found in stormwater from fertilizers and feces and wastewater.” According to Rachel, the park’s purpose is really threefold: to reduce nutrients and other pollutants from the water being sent to the park; to recharge the aquifer; and to recreate through the park’s two and a half miles of fully accessible, 8-foot-wide, asphalt paved trails, 1,500 feet of boardwalk and educational signs throughout.

“City of Ocala customers consume an average of 12 million gallons of water a day,” says Rachel. “The park will be able to recharge, or give back, up to 5 million gallons of water a day once it is at full capacity. Right now, it receives just over 3 million gallons of water a day. This is amount is recharged daily.”

An additional bene t of the park will be outdoor passive recreation, including walking, running and observing nature; indigenous ora and fauna; and educational components. Dogs, biking, skateboarding, rollerblades and motorized recreational vehicles are prohibited. Visitors can view the park’s many wildlife residents, including over 40 di erent species of birds.

“This park provides an immersive nature experience,” says Rachel. “Studies have shown that spending time in nature helps lower stress and promote a healthy lifestyle. The recharge and nutrient reduction bene ts of the park will help protect Silver Springs by providing clean water directly into the aquifer. With such a fast pace life happening around us, it is nice to slow

down sometimes and really take some time relax and go for a stroll.”

Funding for construction of the park was made possible through grants received from the St. John’s River Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Legislative Springs Funding, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Recreation and Trail Program, and Florida Department of Environmental Protection 319 Non-point Source Pollution.

“Being at the park as the sun rises and hearing nature wake up is probably the best part to me,” says Rachel. “It is a little nature oasis just o the interstate. I hope people really take some time to re ect and see how with small changes we can all make a big di erence to protect the environment and our water resources.”

Ocala Wetland Recharge Park // 2105 NW 21st St., Ocala // Open to the public sunrise to sunset daily // For more information, contact the City of Ocala Water Resources department at (352) 351-6772 or visit Ocala Wetland Recharge Park on Facebook and Instagram.