Comments on: County to Build $6.4 Million Environmental Center at Circle B Bar Ranch

By: Belinda

Belinda — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 17:12:03 +0000

This project turned out wonderfully!! There is still a lot of the natural environment to see but now there is also a great place to take your children to learn inside and out. What a beauty it is and I am so proud that my children will be able to enjoy this childrn’s environmental education center. Children are our future after all and what a great place for them to learn about our environment. Wonderful job!

By: John Kohler

John Kohler — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:58:25 +0000

Photographers, such as myself, and naturalist alike, that I have talked to, cannot understand the waste of money and removal from public use for such a long time of this land. In it’s nature state … it was a delight, but it always seems that some board of directors thinks it’s necessary to open up this land to the masses. History shows that it’s never the same. The wildlife will leave. Instead of a quiet, pristine area of nature beauty, we must wait over a year to see what we are left with. Consequently, we have no where else like it to go in the county. Those who make all of these decisions probably have never taken a tranquil, quiet walk in the early morning and heard the sounds of nature and seen the wildlife in it’s natural environment. It’s all such a pity.

By: Pat Wilson-Weaver

Pat Wilson-Weaver — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:26:30 +0000

I am so appalled to find these plans to destroy the most beautiful and bucolic pristine area I have ever had the pleasure to encounter. We visited this place numerous times with our bikes and cameras before all the earth movers were unloaded. Have you actually visited this property?!! Nothing like it exists in the whole State of Florida. We make it our hobby to visit all parks and recreation areas around the State of Florida. I’m so upset about losing this pristine property to ‘improvements’ I could just cry. What a pittying shame and a waste of money and resources. It could have been the jewel in the crown of Polk County but now will only be another misquided version of modern advancement. I am heartbroken for every man, woman and child who has missed the best nature preserve ever opened to the public.

By: Ben Carlton

Ben Carlton — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:40:37 +0000

I am baffled as to why there is a need for a nature discovery center in the midst of 1200 acres of natural Florida. Why is it that we feel the need to alter every natural area that we protect in Polk County? There is no need for this 6.4 Million dollar waste of taxes and travesty against nature. Has it not occurred to the committee that, perhaps, the land is more beautiful the way that it is? That adding these buildings is likely to scare away much of the wildlife that helps define the beauty of this preserve? Heavy machinery tends to do that. Also, one of the only preserves in Lakeland is now pointlessly closed for 18 months. I am appalled by this decision.

By: Brad Peck

Brad Peck — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 08:56:51 +0000

This is great. We need more parks… Bike paths… and recreation… Of course, thats why I am here…