Rainbow Springs Campground and Day Use Facility

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), Division of Recreation and Parks, retained our firm to perform civil site design and prepare associated permit applications for the campground and tubing areas at the 2,500-acre Rainbow Springs State Park in Dunnellon.

The FDEP wanted to upgrade its facilities by installing a tram station with ticket booth, a parking area, multi-use facilities, a boardwalk, trail lighting, and electronic gates. The recreational vehicle campground sites near the Rainbow River were relocated to less sensitive habitat, and the campground sites near the river were restored with native species to improve stormwater runoff. Our ecological operation provided ecological analysis, wetland delineation, and a gopher tortoise management plan.

The campground office building was refurbished along with the restroom facilities, and a new amphitheater was built. Within the south end on newly acquired acreage, a day use facility comprising a concession/bath building, picnic shelters, over 600 feet of boardwalk, and other park accessories were added.

The conceptual plan for the entire project was prepared identifying environmentally sensitive areas, sidewalk and boardwalk locations, and proposed locations for the new facilities. The plan included parking/road design, canoe launch, culvert crossings, stormwater collection system, extension of the sanitary sewer collection system, and design of a sanitary lift station/force main, water main extension, and the design of a water well, electrical services, tube launch and take-outs, and campsites.

Permit applications were assembled for various agencies, including the Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Marion County Land Development, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, FDEP, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services, Florida Power, City of Dunellon Land Development, the Marion County Health Department, and the City of Dunnellon Building Department. We also provided construction observation.

• Ecosystem Services
• Land & Site Development
• Municipal Construction Observation
• Park Planning & Design