Parks and Recreation

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Effective Friday, October 4, 2024, several parks have been reopened post Hurricane Helene. Please see the list below for current park operations on the Westside of Hernando County.

Parks Reopened:

  • Bayport Park, 4140 Cortez Boulevard, Spring Hill, FL 34607
    • 1 boat ramp closed, 2 remain open
  • Linda Pedersen Park, 6400 Shoal Line Boulevard, Spring Hill, FL 34607
  • Jenkin's Creek Park, 6401 Shoal Line Boulevard, Spring Hill, FL 34607
    • One of the two ramps to the dock is closed and under repair. The other ramp remains open and accessible to the dock. The restroom facilities are closed but portable bathrooms are onsite. 
  • Hernando Beach Boat Ramp

     

    Parks Closed:

  • Alfred A. McKethan Pine Island Park, 10800 Pine Island Drive, Spring Hill, FL 34607
  • Rogers Park, 7244 Shoal Line Boulevard, Spring Hill, FL 34607
  • Fickett Hammock Preserve, 15482 Centralia Rd, Brooksville, FL 34614
  • Lake Lindsey Boat Ramp

Parking PassesFacility ReservationsSports Leagues Summer CampSwim Advisory Status AdoptAParkButton Waterways/Aquatic Services

park collage

Enjoying Hernando County Parks

Hernando County offers an impressive park system, with over 20 developed parks on 424 acres and 452.5 acres of open space. Our well-

maintained county parks support a wide array of recreational activities, from casual strolling to active sports such as baseball, soccer, boating and swimming.

Parks range from those with Gulf and beach access and boat launches in the west, to community parks throughout the county offering activities for citizens of all ages, to a central district park hosting baseball and soccer events, to a regional park with horseback riding trails, to river access facilities on the Withlacoochee River on the east.

  • Pine Island Sunset 2004

    All county parks are ADA handicapped accessible
  • No alcoholic beverages permitted
  • No pets (except service animals) are permitted in county parks (except for those areas specifically designated for dogs)
  • No lifeguards on duty - swim at your own risk

Pioneer/Stewy's Skate Park: Minor children are required to have parent consent to use the skate park.

 

 

20,000 spotted seatrout to be released at Pine Island Park

Post Date:06/18/2021 12:21 PM

News UpdateIn collaboration with Hernando County, Duke Energy, Coastal Conservation Association Florida (CCA Florida) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will release approximately 20,000 hatchery-reared spotted seatrout at Alfred McKethan / Pine Island Park, located at 10800 Pine Island Drive in Spring Hill, on June 21, 2021 at 11 a.m. The public is invited to attend and observe this event.

"Our ongoing efforts with the Duke Energy Mariculture Center are helping repopulate spotted seatrout in the Gulf ecosystem," CCA Florida Executive Director Brian Gorski said. “Preserving and protecting marine environments for future generations is our mutual responsibility, and today’s restocking initiative will help revitalize one of Florida’s most popular inshore species.”

The spotted seatrout are juvenile fish, approximately four inches in length. The addition of these fish at Pine Island Park will allow the existing ecosystem to thrive and create more abundant recreational fishing opportunities. Spotted seatrout do not tend to travel far from where they are introduced and many are likely to remain in the area.

The spotted seatrout are a donation from the Duke Energy Mariculture Center in Crystal River, a certified aquaculture facility and multi-species hatchery that grows and releases redfish and spotted seatrout into the Gulf of Mexico.

“Duke Energy is proud of our continued collaboration with the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida. Together, we have successfully managed countless fish release projects throughout the state,” said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. “We are committed to helping protect and responsibly manage Florida’s natural resources and are dedicated to helping support the vitality of our communities.”

Since opening in 1991, the Duke Energy Mariculture Center has cultivated and released more than 4.1 million fish and crustaceans. In addition, the center grows a variety of submerged aquatic vegetation, such as eelgrass, for lake and spring restoration and saltwater marsh vegetation, such as mangroves, for living shoreline projects to support the overall health of Florida’s fisheries and marine habitats. It is one of the most successful marine-stocking programs in Florida focused on environmental stewardship and conservation.

“We are thrilled to partner with Duke Energy, CCA Florida, FWC and Duke Energy to release these fish into our ecosystem here in Hernando County,” said Hernando County Administrator Jeff Rogers. “This is an excellent opportunity to not only enhance the existing marine environment but to also allow for better recreational fishing opportunities at this location for our residents and visitors.” 

Photos below are from a recent redfish release.

Duke Energy Truck holding fish to release Woman releasing red fish into the water from a bag

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