Join Friends of Bonnet Springs Park – Exclusive Benefits for You + Support for this Awesome New Place to Play

Imagine a park where you can stroll along a canopy walk under the oak trees, explore the nature trails, play at the brand new Florida Children’s Museum, attend a concert or movie on the family lawn, smell the flowers in the sensory gardens, learn about Florida wildlife in the nature center, paddleboat on a lagoon, meet a friend for lunch at the cafe, host an event in the event center or treehouse, watch your children play on the nature playgrounds… sounds amazing right??

That can ALL be found in Lakeland at Bonnet Springs Park!

Features of the park include brand new buildings like the Welcome Center, Florida Children’s Museum (formerly Explorations V Children’s Museum), The Depot, an Event Center for wedding receptions and events, a Greenhouse, and a Nature Center on the lagoon next to Lake Bonnet.

Outdoor features include the botanic gardens, heritage gardens, family lawn, boardwalk, canopy walk through the trees, butterfly conservatory.

Looking for playgrounds at Bonnet Springs Park? There are multiple including the family playground, nature playground, and train playground.

This brand new park is located in the City of Lakeland, but it will improve the quality of life for all of Polk County and will be a place for everyone in Central Florida to escape, engage, and explore.

Wondering how you can help make this amazing park a success?

Bonnet Springs Park is FREE – there is no cost for admission! Unlike most of our other local parks, Bonnet Springs Park is not a city, county, or state park. It is a privately developed public park that depends solely on public support. BSP is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that welcomes the community’s financial support.

There are multiple opportunities to support Bonnet Springs Park at various giving levels – you can make a donation, sponsor a brick, or support the park for years to come through the Carol Jenkins Barnett Endowment.

The opportunity I am most passionate about is Friends of Bonnet Springs Park. As a Board Member of FBSP, I have been part of the planning process for the past few years to create the Friends group that will allow us to support park projects and event programming.

Will you join me as a Friend of Bonnet Springs Park?

As a Friend of Bonnet Springs Park, you join a unique group of individuals and families who have demonstrated their support of BSP from year one. Take an active role in supporting Bonnet Springs Park at the ground level starting at only $30. (Yep – only $30!) It also makes a great gift.

While Founding Friends memberships were available during the construction of the park, a new Friends of Bonnet Springs Membership Structure debuted on June 15, 2022. New benefits started November 1, 2022 – right after the park’s grand opening. {This means that if you joined PRIOR to June 2022 and haven’t renewed, your membership has expired}

Membership tiers range from $30 – $600 per year and include benefits such as: bottled water, free T-shirt, merchandise with the park logo, canoe or pedal boat rentals, free coffee drinks, and free ice cream. Plus other perks in the future.

In addition to these physical benefits, you can say you were one of the original supporters of this brand new park that our children and grandchildren will enjoy for years to come.

LIMITED TIME ONLY – Right now any FBSP membership amount above $30 goes towards the Carol Jenkins Barnett Endowment with a 2-to-1 MATCH which doubles your contribution.

Carol Jenkins Barnett Endowment Fund

The Carol Jenkins Barnett Endowment will provide a permanent stream of income to support the viability of the Park in perpetuity. Donations to the Carol Jenkins Barnett Endowment remain in trust and untouched, while only the earned income from the Carol Jenkins Barnett Endowment is used to fund the Park’s operation and maintenance. Learn how you and your family or business can join in continuing the vision of BSP.

Bricks + Benches Campaign

For a limited time, you can also sponsor a personalized brick to be placed in Bonnet Springs Park. This is a great way to Leave your mark on the park and share your support.

Personalized Bricks are $200 each and include up to 3 lines of text. Bricks will be placed at the Welcome Center near the park entrance.

Volunteer at Bonnet Springs Park

Volunteers are also a vital part of the success of Bonnet Springs Park! BSP has a variety of indoor and outdoor volunteer opportunities with shift times to fit any schedule. Visit the website and sign up to learn more about becoming a volunteer at BSP.

Bonnet Springs Park is a place to
• Escape •
• Engage •
• Explore •

I hope you’ll join me in supporting this brand new park in our community!

Important Links

• Join Friends of Bonnet Springs Park
• See Photos of Bonnet Springs Park
• Buy a Brick for Bonnet Springs Park
• Volunteer Opportunities at BSP
• Bonnet Springs Park Website – Be sure to sign up for the Monthly Newsletter to get updates on park events and activities.