If you grew up in Kissimmee from Generation Y on back, your school probably visited Green Meadows Petting Farm on Poinciana Boulevard, and it became a part of your childhood.
The family-run park closed in 2018, but it has re-emerged off Jack Calhoun Drive near Pleasant Hill Elementary to provide up-close opportunities for another generation of kids (and old kids) with barnyard animals.
It’s the first phase of the city of Kissimmee’s $150 million capital investment campaign that includes Lancaster Ranch Park, and the city held a ribbon cutting Tuesday morning to announce the future plans that will surround the chicks, pigs and bunnies.
The project is the “grand park” officials say balances growth and preservation on 150 acres Kissimmee began acquiring in the early 2000s with a state grant that is south of downtown, southeast of Gateway Airport, and lies between John Young Parkway and Jack Calhoun.
“It’s to ensure, as the city grows, we can have an adequate amount of recreation amenities and recreation facilities as the city grows,” City Manager Mike Steigerwald said. “And growth we have.”
It’s the largest city investment in a park facility in Kissimmee history. It’s involved ten years of design work, and the city hopes to have it fully complete in the next five years.
Its name honors the area’s ranching heritage. It was acquired from the Lackey family—not related to city Parks and Recreation Director Steve Lackey, who has worked on this project for his 18 years with the city—and named after their heirs, the Lancaster family.
Bike trails and paddling opportunities from a kayak launch that will connect to Shingle Creek and Lake Tohopekaliga, picnic pavilions, large event lot restroom facilities and a playground that should be open in about eight months. In its full scope, it’s a project that rivals Kissimmee’s lakefront park project, and in acreage it is the biggest.
“It will make it a destination facility for the entire community,” Lackey said Tuesday. “This park will serve generations to come.”
Dan Keyes of Green Meadows Petting Farm said he’s shed a few tears as the farm has re-opened in its gates within the last two weeks.
“The city of Kissimmee has been tremendous,” he said. “Thank you for what you’ve done for our family. When the media reported on it, a city official saw it and thought us being on this property would be a good idea.”
