Pond Apple Park, despite its somewhat unusual name, is a 40 acre wild life preserve. And the name really reflects the nature of the Preserve as it is filled with pond apples, a fruit favored by alligators. The fruit, when ripe, is yellow to orange instead of white. The fruit is edible for humans and its taste is reminiscent of ripe Honeydew melon!
The 1.6-mile loop trail of Pond Apple Park meanders through a pond apple slough, wetland marsh and West Indian hardwood hammock. The park is home to several rare and endangered species including bald eagles, wood storks, alligators, otters and bobcats. The trail is open year-round for hiking and biking during daylight hours.
Officially opened in 2011, it is a secret to many people, and one we may spoil with this post.
But for nature lovers, and many guests who frequent the Island are there for nature as much as for the beaches, it is one more great place to explore and enjoy, so we feel we need to get the word out.
The Pond Apple Park project, commenced July 2010, and was 100% grant funded through the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009–2011 Forest Health Improvement
Initiative Grant Program. A grant of $18,020 was provided to the City to
establish four separate stands of native South Florida slash pine on City-owned
lands known as Pond Apple Park and Paulsen Preserve.
In addition to pine trees, a variety of other native shade trees were planted along the trail at Pond Apple Park to provide shade for park visitors. In total, 487 trees were planted as a result of the project.
James Evans, Environmental Biologist with the City’s Natural Resources Department explained that funding provided by the Forest Health and Improvement Initiative Grant allowed the City to meet all of their project goals including: 1) establishing pine flatwoods at two city parks to provide critical wildlife habitat and to attract visitors to the parks; 2) stimulating the local economy by providing work for local contractors using a competitive bid process; and 3) reestablishing canopy nesting sites for bald eagles, which were impacted when Hurricane Charley destroyed the Australian pine canopy that previously provided nesting opportunities.
Citizens and visitors to Sanibel are encouraged to visit the City’s parks and enjoy the new habitats. The Pond Apple Park trailhead is located in the southwest corner of the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce parking lot. A 1.6 mile loop trail takes visitors through various habitats including tropical hardwood forest, pine flatwoods, wetland forest and open water habitats where they can observe wildlife in their native habitats including bobcats, alligators, wading birds, migratory songbirds and bald eagles.
As always, caution is suggested and staying away from the water is the safest way to avoid any contact with the resident alligators.
But if you feel you have seen everything Ding Darling and the Bailey tract has to offer, you might well consider a stroll through Pond Apple!
In addition to pine trees, a variety of other native shade trees were planted along the trail at Pond Apple Park to provide shade for park visitors. In total, 487 trees were planted as a result of the project.
James Evans, Environmental Biologist with the City’s Natural Resources Department explained that funding provided by the Forest Health and Improvement Initiative Grant allowed the City to meet all of their project goals including: 1) establishing pine flatwoods at two city parks to provide critical wildlife habitat and to attract visitors to the parks; 2) stimulating the local economy by providing work for local contractors using a competitive bid process; and 3) reestablishing canopy nesting sites for bald eagles, which were impacted when Hurricane Charley destroyed the Australian pine canopy that previously provided nesting opportunities.
Citizens and visitors to Sanibel are encouraged to visit the City’s parks and enjoy the new habitats. The Pond Apple Park trailhead is located in the southwest corner of the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce parking lot. A 1.6 mile loop trail takes visitors through various habitats including tropical hardwood forest, pine flatwoods, wetland forest and open water habitats where they can observe wildlife in their native habitats including bobcats, alligators, wading birds, migratory songbirds and bald eagles.
As always, caution is suggested and staying away from the water is the safest way to avoid any contact with the resident alligators.
But if you feel you have seen everything Ding Darling and the Bailey tract has to offer, you might well consider a stroll through Pond Apple!
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