By Ken Jackson
Staff Writer

Osceola County residents will get the unique opportunity to help shape the design, planning and management of open park and conservation areas through a series of meetings where they can provide their input.

The first is Thursday night from 5-7 p.m. in the Extension Services building at Osceola Heritage Park regarding the Twin Oaks Conservation Area, located on Macy Island Road along the eastern banks of the Goblet’s Cove inlet of Lake Tohopekaliga.

The county acquired the land in November 2010. Bob Mindick, the county’s public lands manager, said the results help amend the agency’s conceptual plan that it starts with to create parks and open spaces that meet the needs of everyone who would potentially use them.

“We look for sites that are compatible with our objectives of creating passive parks and conservation areas,” he said. “We come up with proposed drawings for the public. From there, we basically ask the public, ‘What are we missing that is compatible with the site?’

“We always have great ideas come out of the public comments. We hear specific needs, like a fishing pier or a kayak launch.”

The Twin Oaks area, formerly known as the Tohoqua Property, is bounded by Lake Toho to the southwest, Neptune Road to the north and Florida’s Turnpike to the northeast. The county paid $9.2 million for the 370 acres of land. It was once part of the Partin Ranch and at one time was owned by the Seminole Indian tribe.

Mindick said Twin Oaks features some of the county’s best natural areas and habitats for various animal life.

“It’s one of our best areas for wildlife, it’s a feeding area for birds and ducks, and I’ve heard there’s a bald eagle nest,” he said. “There’s beautiful oak hammocks with an incredible view of the lake. It will create added protected shoreline and fishing beds, which will make the bass fishermen happy.”

All that’s left to do is to plan, create and place infrastructure, like trails and picnic areas.

“There’s a couple of things we know we have to do, like where roads and parking will be located because of wetlands,” Mindick said. “Except for that, it’s a clean palette, we’re just waiting for the artist to get started.”

The end result, he said, will be an open space that fulfills the expectations of all involved in the community — planners, residents, local developers, and park-goers.

“People can enjoy the benefits of having wildlife in the middle of the city, and living close to things such as hiking and biking trails,” Mindick said.

Thursday’s charette is the first of four planned public meetings regarding parkland planning. The next will be on Aug. 9, also from 5 to 7 p.m. at the OHP Extension Services building, regarding the planning for Shingle Creek Regional Park, a 1,042-acre recreation corridor located west of Hoagland Boulevard along U.S. Highway 192. Mindick said meetings regarding land on the northeast shore of East Lake Tohopekaliga near Runnymede and the 2,400-acre Camp Lonesome area south of Lake Cypress are being planned for later this month.

For more information, contact Administrative Assistant Sandy Bean at 407-742-8650 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .