A new public park is expected to open by the end of year, now that the City of St. Augustine is responsible for the upkeep of Fish Island Preserve.
The city and community supporters have been cleaning up the preserve, at the east end of the State Road 312 Bridge.
Fish Island Preserve has a mile-long trail loop, said Land Management Coordinator J.B. Miller.
“The majority of the property is a large maritime hammock, so huge oak trees and hickories and things like that, and it’s surrounded by marsh. It’s actually heavily treed with a really nice thick canopy, which makes for great walking,” he said.
Florida is leasing the property to St. Augustine for 50 years.
With permission from the state, the city plans to construct a small visitor parking area at the end of Plantation Island Drive.
When that’s complete, the park can be opened to the public.
