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 Fishing
Fun for Everyone
How can you enhance one of the premier fishing areas in central
Florida? One way is to make it more accessible to physically challenged
anglers.
And that's exactly what Danon Moxley at the Tenoroc fisheries office
had in mind for Pasture Lakes at Tenoroc. But first a little background.
The Tenoroc Fish Management Area, located just two miles northeast
of Lakeland in Polk County, is a 7,300-acre former phosphate mining
area, turned into a unique recreational fishing area. Many phosphate
'pits' offer outstanding fishing for largemouth bass and panfish,
but few are accessible to the public.
When the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission developed
the initial Tenoroc mining site (the original 6,040 acres donated
to the state by Borden, Inc.), they set out to manage the 1,000
acres of lakes in such a way that they could maintain high-quality
fishing. Through a focus on research and by using strict regulations,
biologists at Tenoroc have gained valuable insights into progressive
fish management techniques, and as a result, anglers have benefited
at this terrific fishing area.
"We want to provide a quality fishing opportunity," said
Danon Moxley, a biological scientist, with the Tenoroc fisheries
office. "We offer excellent fishing in an urban setting. We're
the central park of central Florida."
And it is this ease of access that makes the addition of handicapped-access
fishing on Pasture Lakes at Tenoroc so desirable.
Gulfstream has teamed with the Tenoroc fisheries office to build
specially designed walkways, ramps and sheltered fishing piers on
and around the two five-acre lakes that make up Pasture Lakes.
"I knew that whatever we created had to meet the ADA (Americans
with Disabilities Act) requirements for safety and access,"
said Danon. "And we knew that Gulfstream had the know-how to
push a project like this through. It is a terrific example of state
government working with private enterprise to create a recreational
opportunity for the public."
"We are especially pleased that Pasture Lakes will not only
offer fishing opportunities for the physically challenged, but will
also be used for children's fishing derbies as well. With the lower
railings and paved walkways, it is ideal for both groups,"
said Pat Crocker, community relations manager for Gulfstream. "And
the setting is beautiful. While we were there, we noticed that a
heron had also claimed a place on one of the piers to do a little
fishing of his own."
The Pasture Lakes project is scheduled for completion in November,
although a formal dedication is planned for spring 2003 to coincide
with National Fishing Week.
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