Alderman's Ford Preserve, is a preserve and park in Hillsborough County,

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

, in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

. The park has two public access points for automobiles, from Thompson Road and from

Florida State Road 39 State Road 39 (SR 39) is a north–south state highway in eastern Pasco and Hillsborough County, Florida, United States. Between Plant City and Zephyrhills, the road is named Paul S. Buchman Highway. North of Zephyrhills, Florida the road i ...

as well as numerous access points for horse, foot or canoe access only. Eight miles of equestrian trails are located along the southern portion of the park, which borders

Alafia River State Park Alafia River State Park is a Florida State Park, located near Picnic in Hillsborough County in central Florida, 17 miles southeast of Tampa on County Road 39. Even before it became a park, the area, and particularly Hurrah Lake, was the center ...

roughly along the border of Jameson Road. A three mile long hiking loop over the

Alafia River The Alafia River is long, with a watershed of in Hillsborough County, Florida, United States, flowing into Tampa Bay. The watershed contains ten named lakes and ponds, and 29 named rivers, streams and canals. During the rainy season, excess w ...

, a baseball park, picknicking and canoe rental facilities can be accessed at the Highway 39 entrance.

History

In 1893 Hillsborough County contracted B. C. West to build a bridge over the Alafia at Alderman's Ford at a price of $300, but the bridge failed inspection and a new contract was granted to W. T. Pollard to rebuild the bridge for $500. The park has been a public gathering space since at least 1890. An annual political rally drawing thousands of people was held every April.

References

Parks in Hillsborough County, Florida {{HillsboroughCountyFL-geo-stub