Frequently Asked Questions

• How much is admission to the site?

  Parking and admission are free.

• Where can I park?

  Parking is available at Mulberry Park and Loyce E. Harpe Park entrances. Lakeland Highlands Scrub has parking available 1.5 miles from the Se7en Wetlands Site Entrance (hike-in).

• When can I visit?

  365 days a year, 7am to 7pm

• Where are the restrooms and water?

  Restrooms and potable water are located at each of the 3 site entrances.

• Where can I find a trail map?

  To reduce paper waste, we do not offer paper maps. Maps can be found on online at Se7en Wetlands Site Map, as well as on each of the message boards at the site entrances.

• Can I bring my pet?

  No. Pets are not permitted at Se7en Wetlands due to the risk of negative pet and wildlife interactions.

• Can I swim at Se7en Wetlands?

  No. Because the site contains wastewater, swimming is not allowed.

• Can I ride my bike here?

  No. Bikes are not permitted at Se7en Wetlands.

• Can I drive my car through Se7en Wetlands?

  No. Personal vehicles are not allowed on Se7en Wetlands trails.

• How long are the trails?

  Se7en Wetlands has a variety of different trails to pick from, with shorter "connector trails" to customize routes to your desired distance. On each map, the primary trails are Red (2.5 miles, 5 miles round trip), Yellow (6.6 miles, loop), and Blue (7.2 miles, loop). Pre-set routes of different lengths can be found on the Se7en Wetlands AllTrails.

• Can I schedule a field trip or tour?

  Yes! Please contact Se7en.Wetlands@lakelandgov.net for more information.

• What events occur at Se7en Wetlands?

  Guided hikes and other activities are offered seasonally. Please visit our Se7en Wetlands Eventbrite Page to keep up-to-date with upcoming events.

• Is Se7en Wetlands a park?

  No. Se7en Wetlands is not a park. Se7en Wetlands is a constructed wastewater treatment wetland. Se7en Wetlands operates for the purpose of tertiary wastewater treatment but is also open to the public for passive recreation.

• Who owns and manages Se7en Wetlands?

  The City of Lakeland Water Utilities Department.

• How large is Se7en Wetlands?

  Se7en Wetlands is over 1,600 acres with almost 20 miles of marked trails for passive recreation.

• Where does the water come from?

  Water entering Se7en Wetlands comes from 2 sources. Water entering Se7en Wetlands at the Influent is coming from the Glendale Water Reclamation Site in The City of Lakeland. The Influent delivers about 10 million gallons of treated wastewater per day to Se7en Wetlands. An additional 1 million gallons of water per day enters the site through a fountain near the Loyce E. Harpe Park Entrance. This site delivers excess water from the Polk County Reclaimed Water Program to Wetland 3.

• How deep is the water?

  Water depth varies throughout each wetland. Wetlands 1 and 2 are the most shallow, being just a few feet deep in most areas. Wetlands 3-7 vary in depth but experience pockets that are over 20 feet deep in some areas.

• What are the concrete ditches for?

  The concrete ditches are "distribution ditches". These ditches distribute water slowly into wetlands 1 and 2. Slowing down the water prior to it entering the wetland reduces erosion and allows the water to move through the site as intended.

• Why is there no shade on the trails?

  The trails at Se7en Wetlands are on "berms". A berm is a raised strip of land that serves as a path or protective wall. At Se7en Wetlands, the berms serve as both. Our berms maintain the structure of our wetlands, serving as the "bathtub walls" of each of the wetlands and keeping the water on the intended route throughout the site. The berms also serve as the trails and access roads throughout the site. Because our berms maintain the control of water throughout the site, we are unable to have any structures or vegetation that might compromise the structural integrity of the berm. Therefore, we are unable to allow trees to grow on top of the berms where the trails are. If a tree were to fall in this area, the root ball/base of the tree could impact the stability of the berm.

• I saw construction during my visit, what was it for?

  Because Se7en Wetlands is an active wastewater reclamation site, there are ongoing maintenance and improvement projects occurring throughout the site.

• Why did I see a vehicle driving around?

  Se7en Wetlands is an active wastewater reclamation site. Daily on-site activities of staff members include water sampling, site maintenance, environmental monitoring, and other activities that require vehicles to drive throughout the site.

• Why can't I fish?

  Fishing is not permitted at Se7en Wetlands because all water on-site is considered wastewater. Wastewater comes from a variety of different sources including used toilet or shower water, sink drains, and industrial uses. The wastewater at Se7en Wetlands has completed some of the reclamation treatment process, but is still considered wastewater.

• Can I feed the animals?

  No. All animals at Se7en Wetlands are wild and should not be interacted with.