Hosted by: Kurt Elmhorst Special guest: Josh Henderson

What does it take to turn forgotten land into a lasting community legacy? This episode explores the remarkable story of Bonnet Springs Park, from the massive cleanup and years of planning behind its 168-acre transformation to the private donations and endowment that help sustain it.

The conversation also highlights the park’s milestone of more than 5 million visitors, its wildlife, events, children’s museum, volunteer opportunities and growing economic impact on Lakeland. At its heart, the story of Bonnet Springs Park is one of stewardship, vision and what can happen when a community invests in something meant to serve generations.

In this episode we cover:

• What is Bonnet Springs Park and its history (1:30)
• The process of cleaning up the land was a big job (6:50)
• The park has crossed the 5 million visitor mark (8:00)
• How our guest came to Lakeland (10:23)
• The planning that took place for this park to become what it is today (13:16)
• What the endowment does for the park (18:33)
• What there is to do at Bonnet Springs (21:20)
• The wildlife that fills the park and how great it is (24:02)
• The many events on the calendar (25:53)
• The children’s museum is a standout activity at the park (27:20)
• The Long View of Bonnet Springs (32:08)

The community impact of this attraction (37:09)

Final thoughts from our guest (41:00)

Links From the Show:

Allen & Company
Bonnet Springs Park
Volunteer portal
Children’s Museum

Connect with:

Kurt Elmhorst – MBA, CFP® Sr. Vice President, Financial Advisor
Kurt Elmhorst – Allen & Company
LinkedIn – Kurt Elmhorst

Josh Henderson – Bonnet Springs Park, CEO
Joshn Henderson – Bonnet Springs Park
Linkedin – Josh Henderson

The opinions voiced in this program are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. To determine which strategies or investments may be suitable for you, consult an appropriate qualified professional prior to making a decision.