CITRUS CO., Fla. — An RV park may be coming soon to the city of Inverness.

What You Need To Know

  • Plans are being proposed for a 10-acre plot that will sit inside Whispering Pines Park

  • The 300-acre park would remain as a recreational hotspot, continuing to offer its many footpaths, splash pads, baseball fields and more recreational activities

  • This comes at a time when Inverness has undergone a number of other revitalization projects, like The Depot and Valerie Theatre

Plans are being proposed to have a 10-acre plot that will sit inside Whispering Pines Park — a proposal that would be another addition to the town’s recent revitalization.

“Whispering Pines is definitely one of those things that has been a mainstay for decades.”

It doesn’t take long for visitors of the park to truly appreciate its sights and sounds. On a sunny, spring day, Eric Williams takes a stroll through the 300-acre park. A gateway, the city manager said, to the historic City of Inverness lies just beyond the pines.

“One of the big features about it is that it connects so quickly to the rest of the town,” he said. “There’s so much to do in proximity and yet, if you were to just close your eyes and just be quiet here for a moment, you don’t think you’re in the middle of a beautiful city in central Florida.”

It’s an area he’s proud of and happy to do a bit of bragging about. Williams said the park sees close to 160,000 visitors a year with its splash pads and other recreational activities attracting people from all over. With so much to do, there’s a need for places for people to stay.

But Williams said the city has a plan.

“The city - in concept with the widening of the highway and also with the ideology of being able to connect more of the city with overnight stays and tourism - is looking to potentially do an RV park in this facility,” said Williams. “This is one of the locations that is being looked at.”

A proposed RV park that would partially sit on a baseball field inside the park.

“RV-ing is a big deal,” Williams said. “And I think that we see this as an opportunity where folks can come and enjoy everything that the city has and to spend a little time with us.”

It’s one of Williams’ priorities. Inverness has undergone a number of revitalization projects of its own in recent years. From the newly constructed Depot to the modernized Valerie Theatre.

“It’s a constant. You never stop working on those techniques in redevelopment ideology,” he said.

Redevelopment that would continue with Whispering Pines. Williams said it’s something would require extra care.

“We want to minimize and avoid at all possible the disturbance of any of these naturally forested areas, because it’s such a unique ecosystem here with longleaf pines,” he said.

And the timing for an upgrade could be just right.

“Our motto is, ‘Small town done right,’” said Williams. “This park embodies that at the same time that it connects you to so many things.”

A connection, Williams said, will become stronger over time.