Categories of Public Use Levels for all Conservation 20/20 Preserves

 Download C20/20 Brochure

Recreation Opportunities Search

 

Primary Use Preserve

Category 1

Preserves in this category have easy access; their size allows for space to construct parking and other amenities. Grants are available to fund capital improvements, and the Parks and Recreation budget funds staff dedicated to maintaining the public use facilities.

  • Additional passive, resource-based, recreational activities will be offered once a Land Stewardship Plan has been determined. Its uses will be compatible with protecting the animal and plant communities found at the specific preserve. 
  • A parking area with marked spaces will be provided. 
  • Restrooms will be provided. 
  • Daily staff presence. 
  • Regular environmental education programs will be offered. 
  • Interpretive signs. 
  • Capital improvements, such as boardwalks, canoe/kayak launches, overlooks, picnic benches, bike racks and marked
    trails will be provided for visitors, where feasible. 
  • ADA accessibility provided. 
  • Will be open to the public during daytime hours, unless special arrangements are made.
 

Intermediate Use Preserve

Category 2

Preserves in this category have space to provide limited parking without degrading the habitat within the preserve and are conducive to providing a trail system for more than one recreational use.

  • Some additional passive, resource based, recreational activities will be offered once a Land Stewardship Plan has determined which uses will be compatible with protecting the
    animal and plant communities found at the specific preserve. 
  • Unimproved trail head will be provided. 
  • Restrooms may be provided.
  • Frequent, but not daily, staff presence.
  • Occasional field trips and/or educational programs will be provided. 
  • Interpretive signs may be present. 
  • Primitive trails will be provided. 
  • Picnic tables and bike racks may be provided. 
  • Will be open to the public during daytime hours unless special arrangements are made.
 

 

Limited Use Preserve

Category 3

Preserves in this category are intended to be more of a “neighborhood” preserve. At this time, there is no space available for parking for ecological, priority or safety reasons. Members of the public who would like to visit these preserves may have to walk, bike or paddle a distance from public parking areas.

  • If the preserve is fenced, at least one walk through will be provided. 
  • No parking or restroom facilities available. 
  • Staff present for quarterly site inspections and at other times as necessary for the proper management of the preserve. 
  • If there is a public interest, field trips and/or educational programs will be provided. 
  • Some primitive trails may be marked. 
  • Will be open to the public during daytime hours unless special arrangements are made. 
  • May only be accessible to boaters.
 

 

Resource Protection & Restoration Preserve

Category 4

Preserves in this category do not currently provide regular public access. This could either be due to the fact that public access is not feasible (such as a preserve that has no road access or one that consists entirely of mangrove swamps) or preserves where the land stewardship activities could create unsafe conditions for the public (such as a preserve with an active cattle license).

  • No facilities or marked trails will be offered. 
  • Staff present for quarterly site inspections and at other times as necessary for the proper management of the preserve. 
  • If there is a public interest, staff may provide guided field trips when there are no safety concerns and it is compatible with protecting the animal and plant communities found at the specific preserve.

Instructions to print out a preserve map (with open access points) before you visit:

1. "Click" to one of the four regional county areas to get to an area of interest.

2. "Click" to a "red star" to get to the preserve's map & then print map to an 8" X11" sheet of paper.

NOTE: Since most of these natural areas do not have kiosks or brochure boxes, please don't forget to bring your printed map when you visit.

Note: "GREEN" outlined areas are conservation areas managed with other partners.