The unique, man-made wetlands was built by the city in 1987 to disperse the highly-treated wastewater from the Iron Bridge Regional Water Reclamation Facility, 17 miles to the north in southern Seminole county, allowing the water to naturally filter its way back to the St. Johns River. It is grown into a birding paradise, with more than 100 species of nesting wading birds and birds of prey. The park encompasses more than 1,200 acres of marshes, prairies, swamps, lakes and hardwood hammocks, providing habitats for a spectacular array of birds, plants and wildlife.