3400 S. Seacrest Boulevard
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General Information

Acreage:  53.7

Park Hours:  Sunrise – Sunset

Amenities
bike rack, kiosk, nature preserve, nature trail

Historical Information

The site was purchased in 1994 with funding from Palm Beach County and the City of Boynton. State Preservation 2000 matching funds were provided by the Florida Communities Trust. The property is maintained jointly with Palm Beach County and the Recreation and Parks Department. 

The natural area is managed as part of a countywide system of natural areas, protected to maintain the diversity of biological communities and species in Palm Beach County. The natural area is open to the public for environmental education, scientific research, and passive recreation activities such as photography, bird watching, and nature walks.

Many of the species of plants recorded for this natural area are endemic to the Florida scrub ecosystem. Endangered or threatened plant species on the site include large-flowered rosemary, nodding pinweed, pine pinweed, Curtiss' milkweed, twisted and banded air plant and giant wild pine. The site also contains other unusual plant species including:  scrub palmetto, sand spike moss and silk grass. Many species of animals inhabit the Seacrest Natural area scrub including the gopher tortoise, a species of special concern in Florida. Other species known to reside on the site include painted lady butterfly, golden silk spider, prairie warbler, great horned owl, red-bellied woodpecker, ring neck snake and common gray fox.

The scrub contains Florida scrub and scrubby pine flatwoods communities and is one of the largest remaining scrub sites in southern Palm Beach County. Florida scrub occurs on sandy ridges along ancient shorelines, and exists on well-drained sandy coastal ridge soils. They act as recharge areas for underground drinking water aquifers and may limit saltwater intrusion into these aquifers. Scrub is a dry ecosystem regulated by fire and composed primarily of sand pines, saw palmettos, dwarf oaks, lichens and barren patches of sand. Many of these plants have developed water-conserving strategies such as thick, wax-coated leaves to survive in the harsh conditions of this environment. Except for a few small areas in neighboring states, Florida scrub is a plant community unique to Florida. It is an important part of Palm Beach County's natural heritage.

This location was established by Palm Beach County and is maintained by the Recreation and Parks Department. For information about the scrub, call #963-6737. (information courtesy of Palm Beach County)