A trio of nature facilities officially open in Oldsmar

Oldsmar officials cut the ribbon at the Mobbly Education Center on Tuesday, October 6, 2015.

Oldsmar officials cut the ribbon at the Mobbly Education Center on Tuesday, October 6, 2015.

Oldsmar is known as a city booming with commercial and residential growth, but what many visitors, and residents, may not realize is that Oldsmar is also home to a wide variety of parks, preserves and nature trails.

In fact, Oldsmar, which is less than 10-square-miles wide, features over 11 miles of trails that connect to all of the city’s 10 parks, providing a great balance to the hectic world in and around the Tampa Road corridor.

Tuesday evening, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the official grand opening for the Janice Miller Bark Park, the Oldsmar Trail and the Mobbly Bayou Environmental Education Center, Oldsmar Mayor Doug Bevis talked about the importance of the city’s parks system.

Oldsmar Mayor Doug Bevis speaks at the 3-in-1 ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday.

Oldsmar Mayor Doug Bevis speaking at Tuesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony.

“I think sometimes we get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and we forget how beautiful Florida is, and the nature around us,” the mayor said to an audience of residents, city and state officials.

“Oldsmar is very proud of our environmental area,” he added. “I believe half of the city is dedicated to either parks or conservation area, and I don’t think a lot of cities can say that.”

After the ribbon-cutting, Mayor Bevis amended his original statement while continuing to praise the city’s parks and natural beauty.

“I found out from (Leisure Services Director) Lynn Rives that actually one-third of the city is made up of parks, which is still pretty awesome,” Mayor Bevis told Oldsmar Connect.

The new Environmental Education Center at Oldsmar's Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve.

The new Environmental Education Center at Oldsmar’s Mobbly Bayou Wilderness Preserve.

“The City of Oldsmar prides itself on our parks and preserves that serve a purpose, like our spray park, our dog park, and this environmental education center,” he added.

“I don’t think people realize when they’re driving down Tampa Road, a half a mile to the south is the top of Tampa Bay. It’s like a hidden jewel.”

For more information on the City of Oldsmar’s parks and trail systems, visit the newly launched website Explore Oldsmar.com.

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One Response
  1. Maggie Stambaugh 8 years ago

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