text: Hickory Point Recreational Facility: Hickory Point Recreational Facility marks 20th anniversary with special events - tribunedigital-orlandosentinel
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  Hickory Point Recreational Facility marks 20th anniversary with special events
  Hickory Point Recreational Facility in Tavares, pictured… (Tom Benitez, Orlando Sentinel )
  February 14, 2012|By Rosemarie Dowell, Correspondent
  TAVARES — Hickory Point Recreational Facility Park turns 20 this month and the agency that runs it is celebrating with special activities and programs, all geared to entice residents to visit and explore the 68-acre waterfront oasis.
  Located on the shores of Little Lake Harris on State Road 19, Hickory Point opened Feb. 22, 1992, and has been visited by more than 500,000 people since then, according to the Lake County Water Authority, which owns and manages the park.
  Most of the anniversary events are free and are meant to showcase the park's assets and features, said Mike Perry, the water authority's executive director. The agency is hoping to lure first-time visitors to the park through the events and activities, which begin this month and continue throughout the year.
  "There are some people that have driven by the park more than once, but have never visited or stopped in," Perry said. "We're hosting the events to attract them and hopefully they'll come back again."
  Anniversary activities kick off with kayaking certification courses Wednesday and Thursday. Other upcoming events include the Ibini Tera lakes cleanup day March 10, a bird-watching workshop March 31 and introduction to geocaching April 28.
  Besides boasting of one of the largest inland marinas in Central Florida with two fishing piers, 12 boat ramps, a 76-slip day-use marina and a swimming beach with sand volleyball court, the park also has outdoor picnic areas with grills, a nature trail, horseshoe pits, a children's playground and soccer fields.
  The park's 24-hour access is readily enjoyed by area fisherman at night, especially those casting for speckled perch, Perry said, and families can enjoy the nature trail, playground and beach area.
  The park also features a unique two-story screened pavilion with first-floor picnic tables and barbecue grill and two banquet rooms on the second.
  The building is often rented for weddings, baby showers family reunions and club activities.
  Admission to the park is normally $2 per car before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m., but is free throughout February in observance of the anniversary, Perry said.