SLC’s Latest Preserve: Citrus Hammock Open to the Public

SLC’s Latest Preserve: Citrus Hammock Open to the Public

FORT PIERCE – Residents and visitors can now enjoy St. Lucie County’s newest outdoor sanctuary, Citrus Hammock Preserve, located at 6511 SE Citrus Ave.

St. Lucie County’s Environmental Resources Department decided to move forwarded with a soft opening of the preserve with plans to host a formal event in the fall or winter – when the weather is more likely to cooperate.

This 64-acre site was purchased in partnership with the Florida Communities Trust and St. Lucie County’s Environmentally Significant Lands Bond. Citrus Hammock is a neighborhood preserve that features a half-mile nature trail, canoe/kayak stop-over and a four-acre, man-made stormwater pond to help with flooding and water quality in the White City area.

Additional Amenities

With access to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River, additional amenities at this preserve include catch-and-release fishing pond; picnic tables; and educational kiosks. The site was purchased using funds from St. Lucie County’s Environmentally Significant Lands bond and a matching grant from Florida Communities Trust’s Preservation 2000 Program.

“I’m extremely grateful to those St. Lucie County voters who supported a referendum which put their tax money to good use and create the Environmental Lands funds in the late 1990s. This effort assures that St. Lucie County will not pave over paradise and put up a parking lot. This has allowed county staff with the citizens advisory committee to acquire these unique tracks of land to preserve it from future development; provide native habitat to wildlife and give the next generation a place to enjoy our natural beauty,” said St. Lucie County Commission Chairman Chris Dzadovsky.

St. Lucie County acquired the site in 2002 to preserve important native habitats including historic river floodplain and upland shoreline along the North Fork and will play an integral part in the county’s future plans for the greenways and trails system as well as a future paddle trail along the St. Lucie River.

Like all St. Lucie County preserves, Citrus Hammock is open seven days a week during daylight hours. For more information and locations of other preserves visit: www.stlucieco.gov/erd.