Hillsborough seeks public’s ideas for park addition

Hillsborough County wants to hear the public’s ideas on what amenities should be included in a regional park in Thonotosassa.

Branchton Park, 15504 Morris Bridge Rd. Thonotosassa, currently includes a small parking area, shelter, playground, and a basketball court. The $5.6 million improvement plan will add new amenities that, depending on public input, could include dog parks, multiple playgrounds, more shelters, a splash pad, walking trails, pickleball and multi-use courts and gathering spaces.

A conceptual drawing of the proposed park layout also shows space for an event pavilion and potentially a future zipline or challenge course.

The enhancements will be added in phases, with work on the first phase expected to begin later this year.

The improvements will be built on land south of the park, which is located just south of Cross Creek Boulevard. The park is named for the rural hamlet of Branchton that James Madison Branch founded as his own settlement in the late 1800s.

The public can offer input through an online survey at https://publicinput.com/BranchtonRegionalPark_Media that is available until July 5.

The county said an estimated 45,000 people live within a 10-minute drive to the park.