Amenities

Nature trails, boardwalks, fishing docks, garden, covered pavilions, picnic tables, playground, restrooms, parking

Experiences

A unique oasis in an urbanized area, this 32 acre park offers nature trails and boardwalks, with gazebos and a botanical garden on-site as well. The park was restored in the 1990’s to wetlands and coastal hammock forest, and the project won several awards. Great care was taken to protect the native vegetation and desirable exotic trees on the site, such as live oaks, red cedar, sabal palms, banyon, mango, green buttonwood, mahoe and mangroves.

History

The Joan M. Durante Park is the result of a private/public partnership to enhance and restore one of the few remaining vacant island properties on Longboat Key to a viable wetland and coastal hammock forest.

The Town of Longboat Key acquired the site in the late 1980’s after invasive exotic vegetation had taken over. In 1994, a private donor, James Durante, offered to develop the park and restore the property in honor of his late wife. Grants and private donations funded the project.

Habitats

Grassflats, mangrove forest, salt marsh, man-made lagoons, upland coastal hammock

Acreage

32 acres (approximately 1,000 feet of shoreline on Sarasota Bay)

Watershed

Sarasota Bay

Who Owns and Maintains

Owned and maintained by Town of Longboat Key

Website

www.longboatkey.org

SCAT Bus stop and route

Longboat Key Trolley; Gulf of Mexico Dr.