UMATILLA — The Lake County Department of Public Works, Parks & Trails Division, will be officially opening many of the amenities of the 96-acre North Lake Community Park, located at 40730 Roger Giles Road, Umatilla, on Saturday, March 21, from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Amenities of the park opening include the expansive playground area, four picnic pavilions, two restroom facilities, two basketball courts, six tennis courts, four sand volleyball courts, 1.4-mile perimeter trail loop and .75-mile nature trail. The ball fields, including the two baseball, two softball, two soccer and three multi-use, will remain closed until June when the turf is more established and able to withstand the stress of game play.

The park becomes the largest recreational complex for Lake County. Taking nearly a year and half to complete, the Parks & Trails Division was able to add more amenities to the park by completing various projects in-house, such as land clearing, landscaping and playground design.

Staff estimates that about $150,000 to $200,000 has been saved by designing and planting the landscape. Nearly 1,800 plants and trees were planted with 200 more on the way. In addition, the landscape plan includes native Florida plants that will need little watering once they are established. The only exception is the antique rose garden, which includes about 18 different species.

“We wanted to do something different throughout the park to promote conservation and education,” said Dwayne Henry, Landscape Architect for the Parks & Trails Division.
In addition to the rose garden, the playground area adds another impressive feature to the park, with multiple-age play areas, a large sandbox, nearby covered sitting areas and exercise stations. The playground area is easily one of the park’s most distinguishable features.

For more information or to make reservations for pavilions, call the Parks & Trails Division at (352) 253-4950 or e-mail parksandtrails@lakecountyfl.gov.