You and your family are not the only ones who enjoy visiting Marion County parks. Recently, a gator (nearly four feet long) was discovered at the Forest Community Center at Sandhill Park. The trapper allowed a Girl Scout troop who was meeting at the center to take a group picture with him before relocating him to an unidentified area.
The community center is a popular location for spotting a variety of wildlife. A female peacock, named Rainbow by one of the children who frequent the center, makes a daily appearance, entertaining spectators by eating bugs and frogs. A family of Sandhill cranes also enjoys parading through the park each day.
Recreation Manager, Cathy Norris, was surprised to see the variety of wildlife near and around the community center each day. “The people who visit the center really enjoy getting up close and personal with these animals…it really is amazing to see.”






