The plan was to develop the park for outdoor recreation, historic conservation, and to offer abundant opportunity for nature appreciation and wildlife viewing.

The park's significance lies in the Ponce de Leon Spring, its most distinctive feature, which is fed by the Floridan Aquifer.

The spring was named in honor of Juan Ponce de León, an explorer who, in 1513, led the first Spanish expedition to Florida.

[2] It is rumored that the objective of Ponce de Leon's expedition was to search for a spring that, according to a Taino Indian legend, would restore youth to those who bathed in their waters.

[2] Although named after the Spanish explorer, the springs were previously inhabited by a group of Native Americans with a rich history of activity within the area.

Although named after the Spanish colonial explorer Ponce de León, long before the Europeans arrived in Florida, the springs were previously inhabited by a group of Native Americans known as the Chatot and Chisca Indians.

Colored Infantry, was mortally wounded in an accidental shooting and left bleeding “in the lines of the enemy at Big Sandy Creek”.

[10] Due to limestone's porous nature, its presence near the surface, along with Florida's rapid population growth, results in groundwater resources being highly susceptible to contamination.

It also protects the habitats of other plant species, including the flame azalea, the mountain laurel, and the longleaf pine, while simultaneously preserving 40+ acres of historic turpentine woodlands.

Plants found in the upland portions include rhododendron, red chokeberry, milkweed, hickory, huckleberry, blazing star, aster, oaks, pines, and blueberry.

[1] Ponce De León Springs served 111.775 acres of exotic plant species from 2001 to 2011[clarification needed], some invasive.

[4] The park is home to a variety of animals, including the gopher tortoise, turkey, fox, white-tailed deer, beaver, bobcat, otter, and various native and migratory birds.

The parks' flora and fauna are protected from disruption by Statue 258.008, which deems the following a second-degree misdemeanor if done without permission: (a) Cutting, carving, injuring, mutilating, moving, displacing, or breaking off any water-bottom formation or coral.