TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM A CULTURAL RESOURCES

TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM
A CULTURAL RESOURCES DESKTOP ANALYSIS OF THE WALKER ROAD PARK
PROJECT, POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA
Frank J. Keel, Senior Project Archaeologist
Atkins North America. Inc., Tallahassee
July 27, 2011
Atkins Project Number: 100023057
County: Polk
Location: Sections 8, 9 and 17, Township 28 South, Range 23 East (Plant City East quadrangle)
Project Description: Polk County proposes to construct a variety of improvements on the 121acre Walker Road Park site. Improvements will include, but are not limited to, construction of
softball fields, multi-purpose fields, parking areas, restrooms, a playground, picnic areas,
concession buildings, maintenance buildings, fishing piers, walking paths, and stormwater
drainage.
Introduction
This technical memorandum describes the results of a desktop review of the proposed
construction of a county park on Walker Road in western Polk County. Specifically, this report
involves a review of previously recorded historic properties and cultural resource assessments on
file with the Florida Master Site File coupled with a review of the environmental variables in the
project area. Proposed improvements include, but are not limited to, construction of softball
fields, multi-purpose fields, parking areas, restrooms, a playground, picnic areas, concession
buildings, maintenance buildings, fishing piers, walking paths, and stormwater drainage.
Walker Road Park Project Area
The proposed Walker Road Park will be located near the intersection of Walker Road and
Swindell Road in western Polk County. Specifically, the 121-acre project site is situated in
Sections 8, 9, and 17, Township 28 South, Range 23 East (see attached maps). Currently, the
project area is pastureland. The most prominent features are Itchepackesassa Creek and Winston
Creek which meanders through the project area. According to the Polk County property
appraiser’s database there are no structures on or adjacent to the project area that are 50 years old
or older.
Technical Memorandum – Walker Road Park
July 27, 2011
Page 2
A review of the Polk County Soil Survey (USDA 1990) indicates that the project area is within
the Pomona-Myakka-Smyrna soil association. This soil association consists of nearly level,
poorly drained soils on flatwoods interspersed with wet depressions, swamps, and poorly defined
drainageways. Native vegetation includes slash pine, longleaf pine, water oak, bay, cypress, and
gum with an understory of palmetto, running oak, gallberry, fetterbush, fern and greenbrier
(USDA 1990). Six soil types are present in the project area. The table below provides the
relevant information for these soil types.
Soils in the Project Area
Soil Type
Soil Drainage Characteristics
Eaton mucky fine sand, depressional
Pomona fine sand
Sparr fine sand, 0-5% slopes
Very poorly drained
Poorly drained
Somewhat poorly drained
Fort Meade sand, 0-5% slopes
Moderately well drained
Kaliga muck
Very poorly drained
Felda fine sand
Poorly drained
Previous Investigations
A review of the information in the Florida Master Site File (FMSF) indicates that five cultural
resource assessment surveys have been conducted in the general vicinity of the project. In 1994
Janus Research conducted a cultural resource assessment survey for a powerline corridor which
traverses the project area (Janus Research 1994). Two archaeological sites, 8PO4610 and
8PO4611, were recorded in the project area. The Division of Historical Resources determined
that these sites do not represent significant historic properties. The tables below provide the
relevant information of the surveys and historic properties recorded within one-half mile of the
project area.
Previously Recorded Historic Properties in General Vicinity of the Project Area
Site Name
Cultural Period/Date of
SHPO NR Eligibility
Construction
PO3605 (Galloway Road)
Prehistoric, unspecified
Not NR Eligible
PO4034 (Swindell Road)
Prehistoric, unspecified
Not evaluated by SHPO
PO4104 (Buttercup)
Prehistoric, unspecified
Not NR Eligible
PO4108 (Galloway Road)
Prehistoric, unspecified
Not NR Eligible
PO4610 (Winston Creek)*
Prehistoric, unspecified
Not NR Eligible
PO4611 (Panda)*
Prehistoric, unspecified
Not NR Eligible
* Historic property is within the project area.
Technical Memorandum – Walker Road Park
July 27, 2011
Page 3
Previous Cultural Resources Assessments Within One Mile of the Project Area
Manuscript #
Survey Title
Author(s)
4257
Cultural Resource Assessment Survey,
ACI
Nine Proposed Pond Sites on I-4, Polk
County, Florida
4248
Cultural Resource Assessment for Panda Janus Research
Energy Corporation Cogeneration Plant
and Associated Linear Facilities, Polk
County, Florida
4249
A Cultural Resource Assessment
ACI
Survey, Interstate 4 PD&E, Polk
County, Florida
4636
Cultural Resource Assessment Survey,
ACI
Ten Proposed Pond Sites on County
Line Road, Hillsborough County to
West of Memorial Boulevard, Polk
County, Florida
12574
Cultural Resource Assessment Survey
ACI
Report, Florida High Speed Rail
Authority PD&E Study from Tampa to
Orlando, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola,
and Orange Counties, Florida
Year
1994
1994
1995
1995
2003
Assessment Results and Conclusions
Based on the results of this desktop assessment, it is my professional determination that the
project area possesses a moderate to high archaeological site probability. This determination is
based on two variables: elevation and proximity to water. Both of the previously recorded sites
in the project area are on low rises adjacent to a depression/swamp or Winston Creek. This basic
site location model holds true for the other sites in the general vicinity of the project area. Using
these variables, a probability map of the project was created (see attached). The highest relative
probability zones are those areas of relative high elevation adjacent to the creek and depressions
adjacent to Walker Road. Any archaeological sites within the project area should be consistent
with the previously recorded sites in the area: specifically, nondescript prehistoric artifact
scatters, primarily lithic scatters, associated with resource extraction. It is unlikely that
habitation areas will be encountered in the project area due to the low elevation and wet nature of
the soils.
Technical Memorandum – Walker Road Park
July 27, 2011
Page 4
References Cited
Janus Research
1994 Cultural Resource Assessment for Panda Energy Corporation Cogeneration Plant and
Associated Linear Facilities, Polk County, Florida. Ms. on file, Florida Division of
Historical Resources, Florida Master Site File, Tallahassee.
USDA
1990 Soil Survey of Polk County, Florida. United States Department of Agriculture, Soil
Conservation Service, Washington, D.C.
PreviouslyRecordedArchaeologicalSitesintheProjectArea
N
1”=2000’
PROJECT AREA
Plant City East, Florida Quad
Walker Road Park Project - Project Location Map
N
1”=500’
Itchepackesassa Creek
ity
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Co
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i
Walker Road
W
on
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Cr
LEGEND
Project Boundary
Swindell Road
High Archaeological Probability Area
Low to Moderate Archaeological
Probability Area
Walker Road Park Project - Archaeological Probability Areas