Deer Prairie Creek Preserve

Coordinates: 27°05′N 82°18′W / 27.08°N 82.30°W / 27.08; -82.30
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Deer Prairie Creek Preserve
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Map showing the location of Deer Prairie Creek Preserve
Map showing the location of Deer Prairie Creek Preserve
Deer Prairie Creek Preserve
A map showing the location of the preserve in Florida
LocationSarasota County, Florida
Nearest cityNorth Port, Florida
Coordinates27°05′N 82°18′W / 27.08°N 82.30°W / 27.08; -82.30
Area6,439 acres (2,606 ha)
Governing bodySarasota County
Official website

Deer Prairie Creek Preserve is a 6,439-acre (26.06 km2) natural area with 70 miles (110 km) of trail in unincorporated Sarasota County, Florida, USA, around six miles (9.7 km) along the Myakka River.

History[edit]

The land was acquired between 2000 and 2004 through a partnership between Sarasota County’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program (ESLPP) and the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD).

Environment[edit]

Habitats include pine flatwoods, prairie hammock and seasonal wetlands. Animals living in the area include gopher tortoises, deer, alligators, river otter, wild turkey, swallow-tailed kite, Florida scrub-jays and wading birds. Notable plants growing in the preserve are St John's wort, tarflower and the pine lily (Lilium catesbaei), native to Florida.[1] Equestrian uses are also allowed.[2][3]

The park has two entrances. The northern entrance is located at 7001 Forbes Trail and the southern entrance at 10201 South Tamiami Trail.

The park has over 70 miles of Hiking Trails. There are also Bicycle Trails.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Deer Prairie Archived May 2, 2012, at the Wayback Machine Sarasota County
  2. ^ Deer Prairie Creek Preserve brochure Archived May 10, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Equestrian brochure" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 10, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  4. ^ "Deer Prairie Creek Preserve | Visit Sarasota". www.visitsarasota.com. Retrieved March 27, 2022.

External links[edit]