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A Day At The Track

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By MIKE DeWITT, Tribune correspondent

Published: December 22, 2007

For pristine smoothness of asphalt, it has no rival. For access by town or country, it has no peer. Hillsborough County's Flatwoods Park is has become the premier destination for those who prefer their workouts wheeled and their scenery beautiful.

Yet this park, which is sandwiched between Morris Bridge Road and Tampa Palms, accommodates more than the pedal-powered. Hikers also are finding the trails of Flatwoods have much to offer.

A Park With A Job

Flatwoods Park, however, wasn't always a park. In fact it barely escaped a watery grave. It and several other parks nearby are actually lands set aside for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE) Four Rivers Basin flood control project, conceived after Temple Terrace and Tampa were flooded by the Hillsborough River during Hurricane Donna in 1960.

The original USCOE plans called for the construction of a vast reservoir encompassing 13 miles of the river and the wetlands surrounding it. But the plan was scrapped for all time when finally the value of wetlands and wilderness habitat became more widely known.

The land, known today as the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area and Wilderness Park (LHFDA), was purchased by the Southwest Florida Water Management District in the late 60s. In the 70s, the Morris Bridge wellfield was developed on the site of Flatwoods Park to supply drinking water to the city of Tampa.
Flatwoods Park is actually one of several park sites in the 16,000-acre LHFDA. All were constructed as the result of an agreement between Swiftmud, USCOE and Hillsborough County. The recreational areas are leased and managed by the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department. But of these, only one stands out as a road cycling destination - Flatwoods Park.

One of the first things you notice is the uncommon smoothness of the asphalt road. Coal black and as smooth as river rock, the road into the park imparts more of a glide than a drive. At the main parking area you'll find restrooms, soda machines and the Ranger's office. More than the amenities, it's the other vehicles in the parking lot - more specifically the skeletal bicycle racks fitted to them - that provide a clue as to the park's clientele.

Popular Pavement

Close inspection of the office grounds begins to fill in the gaps. There is a bicycle wash station, an air hose, and a bulletin board equipped with a detailed map to guide park patrons through nine miles of pristine asphalt, it is the velvet dream of every inline skater and road biker - the Loop Road.

The Loop Road began its life as a packed shell access road to the various pump houses in the wellfield. It wasn't until 1991, when Hillsborough County paved the roadway, that the popularity of the loop skyrocketed, according to John Brill, the general manager of public information for the Parks Department.

The Loop Road proper is seven miles long. From the main parking lot, it is a two mile pedal to the east end of the loop. Located here is also a second, smaller parking lot, one that fills up quickly with the conveyances of loop fans.

The surface of Loop Road is virtually flawless. It has two other unique qualities that make it attractive as a mixed-use recreational destination - there is no motor vehicle traffic allowed and there are several well-maintained water stops along its path. Each mile is marked, enabling the competitive rider or runner to calculate their pace.

The loop circles through several natural habitats in addition to the pine flatwoods for which the park is named, including wide expanses of freshwater marshland and cypress forests. Deer, hogs, gopher tortoises and a wide variety of birds can be spotted in a single leisurely walk or ride.

Because the loop is popular with a wide spectrum of recreational users, the park's operators invented an ingenious way of making it safe and useful for everyone. In-line skaters, runners and hikers navigate the loop in a counter-clockwise direction, while cyclists travel clockwise. It is a simple system enables both parties to see each other coming, thereby avoiding the nasty surprise of an inadvertent step into the path of a whisper-silent 40 mph road bike. There are signs posted at the loop to remind users of this protocol.

To keep its wheeled patrons smiling, Flatwoods Park resurfaces Loop Road as needed. In addition to the periodic resurfacing work, the park operates a special blower which clears leaves, twigs and other debris from the roadway, a service greatly appreciated by skaters and road cyclists alike.

Getting Dirty
Flatwoods Park is a regionally famous destination for hikers and off-road bikers. The trails in the park traverse over 15 miles of breathtaking, unspoiled nature. The trails snake out in to the back-country, forming a winding series of paths that connect Flatwoods Park to the Trout Creek and Morris Bridge park sites.

These scenic pathways are the work of the Wilderness Trail Association, a volunteer group dedicated to building and maintaining Wilderness Park's backwoods trails for public recreation.

The trails are impeccably maintained and blazed, requiring only basic map and sign reading skills to navigate.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Flatwoods Park at Wilderness Park
TELEPHONE: (813) 987-6211

HOURS: Dawn to dusk, currently closes at 6 p.m.

FEE: $2 donation at entrance (benefits Friends of the Park)

GETTING THERE: Three miles south of Pasco County line on Morris Bridge Road
TO VOLUNTEER WITH THE WTA: Call (813) 987-6211 or e-mail Ranger Joe Humble at jrhumble@aol.com

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