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Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center This Web Site: www.neighborhoodlink.com/org/brookercreek/
Brooker Creek Preserve Brooker Creek Preserve is Pinellas County's largest natural area at nearly 8,500 acres. Located in the northeastern corner but extending westward to the Anclote River, the Preserve is roughly seven miles long and one and one-half miles wide and lies within the rapidly developing East Lake region of Pinellas County. Brooker Creek Preserve is a wilderness island surrounded on all sides by urban development. It is comprised mostly of pinelands and freshwater swamps and includes a significant portion of the watershed of Brooker Creek, a major input to Lake Tarpon. Brooker Creek Preserve is not a park, but a protected natural area. Native wildlife includes bobcats, red-shouldered hawks, wood storks, coyotes, white-tailed deer, and gopher tortoises. Many of these species are abundant in the Preserve but are found nowhere else in the county. Likewise, many less common species such as the endangered Catesby lily, a variety of orchids, Bachman's sparrows, and the tiger swallowtail butterfly find refuge within the Preserve. The size and diversity of the Preserve will ensure that the great diversity of plants and animals that reside there now will have a home for future generations. Boardwalks and trails (hiking and equestrian) are currently available for public use on the Preserve. The Preserve opens every day at 7:00 am and closes 30 minutes before sunset. Education Center The Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center opened to the public in June 2004, providing numerous interactive exhibits, gift shop, and resource center. A centerpiece of the center is the 6,000 square-foot Exhibit Hall. Visitors here are encouraged to immerse themselves in the various habitats found within the preserve. The Exhibit Hall features 22 discovery-oriented experiences revolving around natural Florida and our local history. There are a variety of hands-on displays designed to be as fun as they are informative. Crawl through a gopher tortoise burrow, wander around an exhibit that illustrates a year of seasonal changes and natural processes in Florida, or step into the Theater's barn and journey into the past. Rotating nature art exhibits featuring paintings, photography and more can also be experienced. The Resource Center contains an environmental library and searchable database aimed at helping visitors research a variety of environmental projects for their backyards or community. The facility is open Wednesday from 9:00 am to 8:30 pm and Thursday - Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm (closed holidays). Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Rd., Tarpon Springs, FL 34688 Programs Indoor and outdoor programs, led by staff or guest presenters, featuring a broad range of natural history and other environmental topics are conducted regularly. Special events are occasional offered that combine environmental topics with music, theater, history, and the arts. General guided hikes and night hikes are offered on a regular basis. For additional information call (727) 453-6800. View our Calendar of Events at: http://www.pinellascounty.org/Environment/pagesHTML/se10.html or click on the ''Our PDFs'' links on the left margin for our monthly event programs. |
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