Perico Preserve is a Manatee County jewel. But this gem wouldn’t have become a reality without the vision and determination of a few key individuals who captured the attention of and created opportunities for the citizens to make it a reality. In 2007, Manatee County purchased the property and, under the leadership and direction of the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners, the Parks and Natural Resources Department began the process of restoring ecological function and making improvements to the site for passive public recreation. After an intense process involving numerous local partners, the Perico Preserve Restoration Project showcases the high-quality results that can be achieved when local leadership and restoration practitioners commit to implementing a state-of-the-art restoration plan.
The original historic habitats at Perico Preserve were a mixture of wetland and upland habitats including mangrove swamps, pine flatwoods and coastal scrub. It might be hard for a recent resident to appreciate such a habitat since so much of it has been lost to development. In documents that preceded the development of Perico Island, it is revealing how much was lost, including over 100 acres of grass flats. This kind of environmental loss highlights why preserving places like the Perico Preserve is so important.
Manatee County Parks and Recreation staff, led by Director Charlie Hunsicker and then-Division Manager for Ecological and Marine Resources Damon Moore, did extensive research on the historic nature of the site to determine restoration goals.
This coastal property provided all the necessities for early inhabitants of the area and there is evidence of a once-existing Native American mound. As the population of Manatee County grew, natural resources on the site provided timber and the once dense forest of pines was harvested. Farming began almost a century ago, intensified over time, and resulted in the loss of rich native plant and animal diversity.
Before 2007, the site was poised for development and sat fallow for nearly a decade, giving way to invasive exotic plant species. With the county’s acquisition and decision to restore the site for ecological values, water quality and recreational purposes, the landscape of Perico Preserve was put on a course back to its original state. A visit to this restored habitat will give you a taste of the real Florida and demonstrate why projects like this are so important to present and particularly future generations.
Bring a sense of wonder, but don’t bring your dog. The preserve was planned as a bird sanctuary and pets are not allowed in an effort to protect native birds.
To learn more about this special place consult the following links:
The original proposal for the development of Perico Island: https://books.google.com/books?id=ruE0AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false
Manatee County presentation on the creation of Perico Preserve:
