Activation Report: Sawgrass Lake Park (US-6700) — March 19, 2026
- 3 min reading time
Mode: FT8 (Digital) · Band: 20m · Radio: Xiegu X6200 · Contacts: 21 · Park: US-6700
Back-to-back activations — Sawgrass Lake Park the day after Alafia. POTA reference US-6700, right here in St. Petersburg, Pinellas County. 21 QSOs in the log.
The park
Sawgrass Lake Park is one of those places that doesn't look like much from the road — you'd never guess that 400 acres of genuine Florida wilderness sit tucked behind the neighborhoods off 25th Street North. The park contains one of the largest maple swamps on the Gulf Coast, and thousands of birds migrate through during the fall and spring. Pinellas County There's a mile of elevated boardwalk winding through the swamp, an observation tower overlooking the lake, and enough wildlife to keep you distracted between contacts.
Keep your eyes open for herons, egrets, ibis, wood storks, alligators, turtles, gopher tortoises, osprey, and great horned owls. Tampabuyersbroker On a March morning the bird activity is excellent — spring migration is just getting started. Admission is free, which makes it one of the better POTA values in the Tampa Bay area.
The setup
Same kit as the day before at Alafia — Got the JPC-12 vertical up with all 8 radials laid out — 17 feet each, spread around the base of the antenna. Power came from my homemade portable battery box, which I built myself for field operations. Running the Xiegu X6200 off the battery box, logging on the laptop with WSJT-X handling the FT8 — simple, portable, and reliable.
On the air
20 meters was open and cooperative. Called CQ POTA on FT8, got spotted on the network, and contacts started rolling in. 21 QSOs — a solid valid activation. Digital modes continue to prove their worth for this kind of low-power portable operation. 5 watts and a vertical does the job quietly and efficiently.
Two activations in two days, two parks in the log. The back-to-back format is a good way to operate when conditions are good and you're already in the field mindset.
Would I activate here again?
Absolutely — and it's the closest POTA park to home base in St. Pete, which makes it an easy call when time is short or conditions look promising. Worth arriving early to catch the morning bird activity before the park fills up.
Full log uploaded to POTA and LoTW. 73 de W4GGJ
Gear available at Radioddity — use code W4GGJ for $15 off.