Maritime Hammock Preserve

1225, 1235 North Atlantic Avenue, Cocoa Beach, Florida

The Cocoa Beach Maritime Hammock Preserve was purchased by the City for conservation and stormwater management in 2003 in partnership with the State’s Florida Communities Trust program; this grant provided 40% of the $1.52 million purchase price. A 1-acre stormwater pond has been constructed as a natural park amenity, and provides storm runoff treatment for 128-acres of commercial and multi-residential areas. The stormwater pond was almost entirely funded by grants: $584,000 from FL Department of Environmental Protection and EPA, $177,000 from St. Johns River Water Management District and $149,900 from FL Department of Transportation.

There is a Management Plan, approved by the City and adopted by the State of Florida, that insures that the land will remain conservation and passive recreation in perpetuity. The City’s Land Management Committee has been developing the master site report and master siteplan that is consistent with the Management Plan. Conservation efforts include native plant community restoration, invasive plant eradication and passive recreation, such as nature trails, an observation deck, picnic areas and eco-kiosks. The preserve will be developed throughout 2009 and is expected to be open to the public by 2010.

Project Status: (05-26-09) - A state FRDAP (FL Recreation Development Assistance Program) grant for $50,000 has been awarded for the development of the park amenities such as the pond wildlife observation deck, picnic areas, and fitness and nature trails. These monies must be approved in this year’s state budget and as soon as this occurs, the park development will occur.  The city has been donated a sizable number of native live oaks for planting in public areas; the next phase of work will be removal of the Australian pine clusters in the northeast corner of the park near Denny’s so that these trees can be planted. This work is expected to take place during late spring/early summer.