Westchase Aerial Mosquito Spraying Slated for Sept. 3

Hillsborough County Mosquito and Aquatic Weed Control has announced it will be spraying the pesticide Dibrom 14 by air in Westchase between the hours of 8 p.m. and midnight on Friday, Sept. 3. The application is aimed at controlling the mosquito population. Continues...

Proposed WCA Assessments Drop to $310

While the Westchase Community Association’s (WCA) annual budget workshop on Saturday, Aug. 28, likely set a record for low attendance, the twelve residents who were there put the finishing touches on a draft budget presented by WCA Manager MaryJo LoCascio. The result was a proposal that would decrease WCA assessments by three percent, from $320 this year to $310 in 2011. Continues...

WCA Announces Additional Error in Guideline Ballot Counting

Following WOW’s release of Westchase Voting Members’ (VMs) votes on amendments to Westchase’s governing documents, Westchase Community Association Manager MaryJo LoCascio contacted the magazine on Friday, Aug. 20, to inform its staff that the vote tallies submitted to them contained a significant error that changed the results of amendments to the Westchase Residential Guidelines. Continues...

Pleasurable Picnics and Pleasant Parks

This year WOW’s Dining Special focuses on take-out and the most wonderful places to enjoy it. We asked an expert with the county parks system and a handful of your Westchase neighbors what makes their favorite picnic spots so special. (Click here to see your neighbors’ favorites and click here to see the restaurants that sponsored this year’s Dining Special.)

Summer is the time of year when we make an effort to slow down, get our daily dose of Vitamin D, and do what makes us feel most warm inside: spend time with dear family and friends. One way to do this involves little planning and money. Simply grab some take-out from your favorite local eatery and then take delight in summer fun at one of our region’s pristine parks. Whether you want to stay close to Westchase or travel a few hours, West Central Florida has just the parks for you and those you love.

John Brill, a spokesperson for the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation, and Conservation Department, shared, “A lot of people don’t know the things we offer. They don’t have to travel far. It’s all in our backyard.”

One of Brill’s top recommendations for Westchase residents’ picnics is the Upper Tampa Bay Park (UTBP). It’s off of Hillsborough Avenue at 8001 Double Branch Rd. The park is joined with a preserve, totaling over 2,000 acres. Given its location on the bay, park-goers can enjoy its saltwater environs. Saltwater fishing is even permitted in the park. Even though school is out, some visitors may want to learn about the fauna and flora on the grounds. Informative displays are featured inside of the park’s visitor’s center. For those who prefer independent learning, there are nature trails and boardwalks with educational signage. Once you work up an appetite, tables and grills are available. For those seeking to work off calories after delighting in picnic-style fare, UTBP even has a canoe launch with access to the mangrove swamp wetlands.

Brill’s next suggestion is a 240-acre site he refers to as “a green oasis in the middle of a highly populated area.” Lettuce Lake Park is located at 6920 E. Fletcher Ave. and is open from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Situated on the Hillsborough River, the park features a boardwalk with a tower that gives visitors a bird’s-eye-view of the freshwater system. Lettuce Lake may be the perfect fit for Westchasers who enjoy fitness activities. There are paved biking and jogging trails, as well as a fitness course. All county parks have a $2 entry fee, which covers up to eight people in one vehicle. Frequent park visitors can purchase an annual family pass for $100.

One of our region’s most frequented parks is Lithia Springs, located at 3942 Lithia Springs Road. Brill explains that the crystal clear water, which is 72 degrees year round, is the main draw. There is an additional $2 fee at Lithia Springs for those who want to swim. Lifeguards are on site. Once visitors managed to shrivel up their fingertips, it’s time to get on dry land. There they’ll find many shade trees ideal for picnicking. Kids can enjoy the playground and expert park-goers may choose to stay overnight at one of the park’s 40 camping sites.

Living in Westchase also affords residents quick access to Pinellas County. Neighboring Pinellas, like Hillsborough, boasts many lush parks. Located in Largo at 12520 Ulmerton Road, the Florida Botanical Gardens provides a perfect picnicking spot, although grilling is not allowed. The grounds, which boast beach sunflowers, firecracker plants and white birds of prey (to name a few), are peppered with benches and shade trees perfect for a traditional family picnic. With over 90 acres to explore, Westchasers may want to head over early. The gardens open at 7 a.m. and admission is free!

The Florida Botanical Gardens also boasts a trail designed specifically for children. It leads into Heritage Village, a living history museum with structures dating back to the 19th century. Visit www.pinellascounty.org/heritage to learn more about ongoing exhibits and special programs. The Village is located at 11909 125th Street North in Largo. Young Westchasers are certain to have a blast while learning all about the past! 

Also in Pinellas is the magnificent Boca Ciega Millennium Park. The park, a designated stop on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Great Florida Birding Trail, has something for every member of the family. There is a canoe launch, a 25-mile nature trail and a playground. Even four-legged Westchasers are welcome. In designated areas, dogs are even free to roam unleashed. Given their fur coats, dogs also get hot under the blazing Florida sun, so the park also has both cooling stations and water fountains specifically for Fido.

Any residents interested in reserving a picnic shelter at a Pinellas park can do so online. There is a cost associated with some of the shelters, but credit card payments are taken via Internet. Once on the site, there are options for the different parks, dates and specific shelter choices. Simply visit http://pinellas.obsres.com/parkshelters to choose your shelter. Then pack the perfect picnic basket.

Those who want to travel further south can take advantage of the historic Gamble Plantation Historic State Park. The antebellum mansion, furnished in the mid-19th century style, is the only remaining plantation home in Florida’s southern region. Located on U.S. 301 East in Ellenton, the mansion offers guided tours Thursday through Monday. Special events are scheduled on a regular basis, so be sure to check out their Web site for the next car show or holiday showcase. Don’t be intimated by the “mansion” part; visitors can enjoy an old-fashioned, casual picnic at the Gamble. Situated on 16-acres, the mansion offers multiple picnic tables on which visitors can enjoy either homemade or store-bought picnics.
If time is short, Westchase is a fantastic community offering a bounty of beautiful parks right within its boundaries. But if you’re itching for something new and different, why not consider a picnic in the park adventure? With both WOW’s and your neighbors’ suggestions, you have a full year of options.
Bon appétit and enjoy the fun!

By Tara Payor

Payor, a resident of The Vineyards, can be reached at tafsu21@aol.com.