McIntosh Preserve is north of I-4, near North Alexander Street and Knights Griffin Road. The Florida Communities Trust and the Hillsborough County Environmental Land Acquisition and Protection Program (ELAPP) purchased the 360-acre preserve for Plant City in 1998 for $1.1 million. The preserve’s intended use is as an educational and environmentally protected park. In 2005, the eastern 100 acres of the preserve were converted from grassy meadow into a prairie wetland to improve water quality throughout eastern Hillsborough County.
This prairie wetland removes approximately 50 percent of the pollutants flowing into the Hillsborough River from northeast Hillsborough County. The Eastside Canal drains 6,300 acres of urban and rural land in and around Plant City as it flows into Itchepackesassa Creek and Blackwater Creek. This water then seeps through the McIntosh wetlands before spilling into the Hillsborough River.
The Plant City wastewater treatment plant uses technology to reclaim water for use in irrigation and industry that will soon be used at McIntosh Preserve to help hydrate the wetlands when needed.
The McIntosh Preserve Suite of Integrated Projects includes the McIntosh Preserve wetland expansion and the potable reuse projects. The wetlands expansion project is being prepared for the bid phase for construction. The potable reuse project pilot phase has been completed and the next phase is the initial design phase.
Currently, McIntosh Preserve has 2.2 miles of wide, level trails that wind through prairie, grandfather oaks, and jungle. At the end of one of the trails is a 30-foot observation tower that looks out over open land. For those who are able to get to the tower, but unable to make their way up it, the ground level has two television screens that show the view from the top. However, several additions, upgrades, and amenities are on the way.
“The sleeper project that is happening right in front of everyone’s eyes, but nobody is paying attention to, is McIntosh,” commented Bill McDaniel, City Manager of Plant City. “That continues to move along. Phase 2 is going to bring a tremendous new level of amenities to McIntosh—additional trails, and a big Florida-shaped hill—from the air it’s in the shape of Florida. The hill is going to be a pretty neat feature, you will be able to walk up trails to the top of it. It will be 60-feet tall, and when you get to the top, you will be above the tree line and able to see downtown Plant City.” The phase will also add some formal, park-style restrooms, new parking, improved parking, a ranger station, a screen enclosure, and a pavilion on top of the Florida hill.
The City of Plant City is scheduled to start this Phase 2 project at the beginning of 2025. It will take 18 months to 2 years to complete.