Loyce Harpe Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loyce E. Harpe Park |
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|---|---|
| Type | County park |
| Location | Florida |
| Nearest city | Lakeland, Florida |
| Established | Dedicated in 2006 |
Loyce E. Harpe Park, once known as Carter Road Park, is a fantastic place located in Polk County, Florida. It's a big park with many different activities for everyone to enjoy. You can play sports, explore nature, or just relax with your family and friends.
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What Can You Do at Loyce E. Harpe Park?
This park is packed with things to do! If you love sports, you'll find four softball fields, eight Little League baseball fields, and six soccer fields. There's plenty of space to practice your favorite game or join a team.
But it's not just about ball games! The park also has:
- A thrilling mountain bicycle trail for riders of all skill levels.
- A peaceful hiking trail where you can explore the outdoors.
- A fun disc golf course for a unique challenge.
- Places to go fishing if you enjoy a quiet time by the water.
DiOGi Park: A Special Place for Dogs
On July 14, 2007, a special dog park called DiOGi Park opened within Loyce E. Harpe Park. It's a great spot for your furry friends to run, play, and make new friends too!
Fun Events All Year Round
Loyce E. Harpe Park is also known for hosting exciting events throughout the year. These events are put on by Polk County Leisure Services. The biggest and most popular event is the Haunted Halloween Hayride and Happenings, which takes place at the end of October. It's a spooky and fun way to celebrate Halloween!
Who Was Loyce E. Harpe?
The park is named after a very important person: Loyce E. Harpe. He was the first director of parks and recreation for Polk County. This means he helped create and manage all the parks and fun outdoor spaces in the county.
Mr. Harpe worked as a parks and recreation professional for most of his 31 years in public service. He dedicated his career to making sure people had great places to enjoy nature and play sports.
The park was officially dedicated and renamed in his honor on June 24, 2006. Loyce Harpe was born on February 13, 1944, and he passed away on April 5, 2005. Naming the park after him was a way to remember his hard work and dedication to the community.
Where is Loyce E. Harpe Park?
You can find Loyce E. Harpe Park at: 500 W. Carter Road, Lakeland, FL
