Manatee County Government
Manatee County invites the public to Jiggs Landing Grand Opening, Dec. 11
MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Dec. 1, 2010) – Jiggs Landing, one of only two public freshwater launches in Manatee County, will reopen to the public later this month after a year’s worth of renovations that restored much of the property’s original beauty.
Manatee County invites the public to a Grand Opening ceremony Dec. 11 at 9:30 a.m. at Jiggs Landing, 6106 63rd St. East, Bradenton. There will be a ribbon cutting, an open house, historical photo displays and riverfront nature tours at the Fish Camp. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Over the past year, Manatee County has built four rustic camping cabins, a restroom, picnic shelters, a concession area, an array of boating and kayak structures including a two-lane boat launch and a kayak launch, dock and mooring facilities along a newly renovated seawall that lines the lake shore.
Manatee County Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker said
the Grand Opening will be a “welcoming home” for many people who have used the site over the years.
“We’ve undertaken this project because of the public desire to write a new chapter of history for Jiggs Landing Fish Camp,” Hunsicker said. “The renovation and improvements were done to allow the passion of Agnes and Jiggs Metcalf’s original vision to evolve and be passed to a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts and to those simply seeking a respite from the busy world on the shores of Lake Evers.”
Al “Jiggs” and Agnes Metcalf purchased the seven-acre property in 1944 with the dream of creating a fish camp on the banks of the Braden River. Their dream was a reality for more than 40 years, and it became a landmark for countless local fishermen and nature lovers.
Manatee County Government purchased the property in 2005. In subsequent years, pollution was removed from the site while Manatee County worked to secure grant funding for the renovations. The City of Bradenton donated $100,000 toward the original acquisition of property, and then donated about two acres of land valued at $509,000 in 2007.
The $1.7 million project was funded with savings left in the County’s former environmental millage fund and with $930,000 in federal and state grants including Land and Water Conservation Fund, Florida Recreational Development Assistance Program and Florida Boater Improvement Program.
“We’re spending dollars collected from the boating community to support the boating community,” Hunsicker said.
For more information or for directions to Jiggs Landing, call (941) 748-4501 ext. 4602 or visit the Jiggs Landing area of Manatee County’s website, www.mymanatee.org