Pond vegetation overgrowth frustrates residents in Charlotte County

PORT CHARLOTTE - A 41-acre, man-made pond in Port Charlotte is at the center of attention.

Local residents who attended our WINK Listens event in Port Charlotte last week told us about Ollie's Pond Park. A beloved spot, once known for its beautiful views and open water, which now faces significant vegetation overgrowth, leaving these neighbors frustrated.

"It's a great place to walk," said Patricia Johnston, a resident. "I've been walking there for years. It's 1-mile around, and it's just beautiful views, or it used to be beautiful views of the pond."

Neighbors like Sylvia Shirley came to WINK Listens to share how she witnessed a dramatic change in the pond's condition over the past few years.

"We've seen it go from open water in 2020 to now," said Shirley. "The open water is only about maybe a quarter of the entire pond."

Anita Caruthers, another concerned resident who also came to WINK Listens, expressed her disappointment with the current state of the park.

"There's nothing to observe because the pond, they've let the pond overgrow so much that there's nothing but cat tails and willows," said Caruthers. "My tax dollars are paying for that. Well, I'd like to be able to enjoy the area, and they've just let it go."

In response to the community's concerns, WINK News reporter Camila Pereira met with neighbors at the park to see the overgrowth firsthand. They showed her just how tall the plants had grown.

Neighbors shared how it's affecting local wildlife, including spoonbills that frequent the area. Even as the park was named after Oliver "Ollie" Hewitt, a cherished birder and volunteer with the Peace River Audubon Society.

All said they had reached out to Charlotte County about the issues.

"It's really a neat, neat place, but they're doing nothing with it and improving it. How? I don't understand," said Caruthers. "The weeds were so high in front of a bench, they moved the bench over so you could see water. And now? You can't see hardly anything. The weeds are, like, 8-feet tall, and it's just getting choked out, and it's a shame they're not doing anything about it," Johnston added.

Charlotte County's community services director explained that the overgrowth is a natural occurrence during Florida's dry season and assured that the park is functioning as it should.

"I'd just love to see it back to some of its former glory," said Shirley.