| Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Location | Orange County, Florida, United States |
| Nearest city | Wedgefield, Florida |
| Coordinates | 28°29′10″N81°05′48″W / 28.48611°N 81.09667°W /28.48611; -81.09667 |
| Area | 9,515 acres (38.51 km2) |
| Governing body | St. Johns River Water Management District |
Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park is a 9,515-acre (38.51 km2)nature preserve located along the banks of theEconlockhatchee River in eastOrange County, Florida,United States. The Preserve is bordered by the Econlockhatchee on the West andWedgefield, Florida on the East. It is managed by theSt. Johns River Water Management District andOrange County Parks and Recreation. Recreational amenities includecamping,hiking,horseback riding,mountain biking,fishing, and wildlife viewing.[1]
Timucua mounds have been found in the northern part of the preserve, and some campsites on the property date back several thousand years. For early settlers, such as Curry Ford, theEconlockhatchee River was a connecting link betweenCentral Florida and the east coast of Florida. In the early 1900s, many of the trails were blazed for railroad beds to transporttimber andturpentine.[2]
The area consists of flatwoods and open prairie, with hammocks ofcypress,maple,pine,oak, andsweetgum trees, interlaced with creeks and rivers. Wildlife includedeer,turkey,bald eagles,sandhill cranes,gopher tortoises,bobcats,river otters,indigo snakes anddowny woodpeckers. The preserve is home to a few breeding pairs of thethreatenedred-cockaded woodpecker.[3]
Hal Scott Regional Preserve and Park is located at 3871 Dallas Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32833. It is open 7 days/week, from sunrise to sunset. Because the area is in thefloodplain of the Econlockhatchee River, it can become impassable during the summer rainy season.[4]
