Turkey Creek Sanctuary: 130 acres on the creek, since 1981
The City of Palm Bay's Turkey Creek Sanctuary, established in 1981, protects 130 acres of hydric hammock, mesic hammock and sand pine scrub along Turkey Creek, with a 1.85-mile boardwalk and the Margaret Hames Nature Center, opened in 1992.
Turkey Creek Sanctuary is a 130-acre preserve along Turkey Creek in Palm Bay. According to the City of Palm Bay, it was established in 1981, is part of Brevard County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands program, and lies on the East Florida section of the Great Florida Birding Trail.
What it protects
The sanctuary covers three plant communities, the city says: hydric, or wet, hammock; mesic, or moist, hammock; and sand pine scrub. A 1.85-mile boardwalk runs through them, with another 1.5 miles of jogging trail through native forest and a one-mile mountain bike trail that connects to eight more. The creek itself can be explored by canoe or kayak.
The city lists the animals visitors are likely to see: manatees, alligators and Florida cooters in the creek, sometimes an otter or a gar, and ospreys and owls in the pines.
The nature center
The Margaret Hames Nature Center, on the sanctuary grounds by the Tony Rosa Community Center, opened in 1992. It has interpretive exhibits, a nature library and a gift shop, and runs environmental education programs, nature day camps and tours. The entrance is off Port Malabar Boulevard at Santiago Drive.
The creek has a longer history than the sanctuary. The people who lived on this stretch of the Indian River when the Spanish arrived are covered on our Ais page.
Further Reading
Sources
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.