Phosphate mining reshaped the land near Plant City, Florida, during the 1960s, leaving a former industrial site that would later become a public recreation area. The American Cyanamid Company donated most of the property to the Southwest Florida Water Management District in 1969. The following year, the District built a dike and control structure to impound water and establish a 700-acre reservoir. According to the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Edward Medard Park and Reservoir attracts about 500,000 visitors annually, with the reservoir serving as its main attraction. The development brought together two public functions of water management and outdoor recreation. The park is managed by Hillsborough County, while the dam is operated by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The property's earlier use is still visible in parts of its terrain, including the hills left by mining and later planted with oak trees.
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