BradCo Farms Wetland Restoration

Restoring wetland and protecting the future of Central Florida’s water

Project Snapshot

BradCo Farms Wetland Restoration

Recipient: Winter Haven, FL

Project Type: Water Resources

Area: 240 acres funded through Resilient Florida

Funding: $6.375 Million funded through the Resilient Florida Grant & $2.08 Million through the Wetlands Restoration & Protection Grant

BradCo Farm Nature Park Wetland Restoration

Hale Innovation led this project by providing a grant-stacking strategy that aligned state-level resilience funding, water resource acquisition grants, and parks & recreation enhancements.

Project Overview

The BradCo Farms Wetland Restoration project is part of Winter Haven’s One Water Master Plan and the broader Sapphire Necklace initiative, a continuous network of restored wetlands, lakes, and parks designed to protect the Peace Creek watershed and the region’s groundwater supply.

As Polk County experiences rapid development, BradCo Farms demonstrates how ecological restoration and infrastructure planning can work together to improve flood protection, water quality, and community access.

Through Hale Innovation’s grant-stacking strategy, the City of Winter Haven secured two major state funding awards to bring this vision to life:

  • $6.375 million through the Resilient Florida Grant (awarded in 2024) to fund flood prevention and large-scale wetland restoration across 240 acres

  • $2.08 million through the Wetlands Restoration & Protection Grant to support the acquisition and restoration of an additional 100 acres, extending the project’s footprint and impact

The Impact

Together, these investments will transform more than 340 acres of land into a living example of how strategic planning and smart funding can protect natural systems while serving a growing community. The restored BradCo Farms site will function as both a nature preserve and a critical water-resource park that:

  • Restores historic wetlands and improves water quality throughout the Peace Creek watershed

  • Recharges the regional aquifer and provides natural flood storage for surrounding communities

  • Creates passive recreation spaces and nature trails that connect residents to Central Florida’s landscape

  • Advances Winter Haven’s One Water Master Plan through resilient, interconnected design

This project demonstrates Hale Innovation’s commitment to helping Florida communities plan, fund, and deliver infrastructure that strengthens both people and place.

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