Hillsborough River State Park History
Hillsborough River State Park is significant in the twentieth century history of Florida as one of 9 elements of the New Deal-inspired Florida state park system and as one of the physical expressions of early-twentieth century recreation planning. In 1933, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was the first New Deal agency to begin operations in Florida. From 1933 to 1942 the CCC and the Works Progress Administration (WPA) programs constructed an impressive collection of facilities throughout Florida.
A considerable portion of the public recreation facilities created by these programs is preserved in the state park system’s New Deal era parks: Florida Caverns State Park, Torreya State Park, Fort Clinch State Park, O’Leno State Park, Gold Head Branch State Park, Ravine State Gardens, Hillsborough River State Park, Highlands Hammock State Park and Myakka River State Park.
Land acquisition for Hillsborough River State Park began in 1934, and the park officially became part of the Florida state park system in 1935. The CCC began work at Hillsborough River State Park in 1934, when Company 1418 was transferred from Sebring to the small community of Sulphur Springs, northeast of Tampa. CCC Camp SP-71 served primarily as a forestry unit, erecting fire towers, planting seedlings and constructing fire lanes throughout Hillsborough County.
In 1934, a detachment of 60 CCC enrollees were sent from the camp to develop Hillsborough River State Park, under the supervision of the National Park Service. The state park was largely complete by July, 1938, when Camp SP-71 at Sulphur Springs was evacuated. The caretaker’s cottage, support buildings and the suspension bridge at Hillsborough River State Park were constructed between 1934 and 1936. Most of the park’s recreational facilities (including 5 overnight cabins that were subsequently removed) were constructed between 1935 and 1938. Additional wood frame and native stone residences were constructed by park personnel, and several picnic shelters and a boat house were constructed between 1939 and 1941 from NPS plans, probably by the Florida Park Service or its contractors.
The park consists of 1,040 upland acres, and 2,343 wetland/submerged acres for a total of 3,383 acres. Acquisition began in June, 1934.
A considerable portion of the public recreation facilities created by these programs is preserved in the state park system’s New Deal era parks: Florida Caverns State Park, Torreya State Park, Fort Clinch State Park, O’Leno State Park, Gold Head Branch State Park, Ravine State Gardens, Hillsborough River State Park, Highlands Hammock State Park and Myakka River State Park.
Land acquisition for Hillsborough River State Park began in 1934, and the park officially became part of the Florida state park system in 1935. The CCC began work at Hillsborough River State Park in 1934, when Company 1418 was transferred from Sebring to the small community of Sulphur Springs, northeast of Tampa. CCC Camp SP-71 served primarily as a forestry unit, erecting fire towers, planting seedlings and constructing fire lanes throughout Hillsborough County.
In 1934, a detachment of 60 CCC enrollees were sent from the camp to develop Hillsborough River State Park, under the supervision of the National Park Service. The state park was largely complete by July, 1938, when Camp SP-71 at Sulphur Springs was evacuated. The caretaker’s cottage, support buildings and the suspension bridge at Hillsborough River State Park were constructed between 1934 and 1936. Most of the park’s recreational facilities (including 5 overnight cabins that were subsequently removed) were constructed between 1935 and 1938. Additional wood frame and native stone residences were constructed by park personnel, and several picnic shelters and a boat house were constructed between 1939 and 1941 from NPS plans, probably by the Florida Park Service or its contractors.
The park consists of 1,040 upland acres, and 2,343 wetland/submerged acres for a total of 3,383 acres. Acquisition began in June, 1934.
