Overview: Tree Tops Park and Pine Island Ridge Natural Area are separate but adjoining facilities, sharing the same entrance and address. In fact, the two are so seamlessly integrated, that you can't really tell where one begins and the other ends.
Tree Tops is a traditional park, with picnic facilities, fishing, boating, horseback riding, bicycling and hiking. There is an observation tower that climbs into, well, the tree tops. Pine Island is more on the wild side, with trails weaving through an ancient stand of live oaks to a boardwalk that traverses the margins of a restored wetland.
Pine Island Ridge is the sandy remnant of what was a barrier island about 20,000 years ago, and is the highest natural point in Broward County at 29 feet above sea level. It's home to raccoons, squirrels, gopher tortoise, snakes and variety of birds and butterflies. The trails are fairly easy walking and a boardwalk cuts through a wetland.
Tree Tops Park covers 250 acres, while Pine Island Ridge Natural Area comes in at 102 acres. Combined, that's 352 acres of undeveloped land in the middle of heavily developed Broward Count. Impressive.
History: As noted above, Pine Island Ridge was barrier island 20,000 years ago and is now the highest natural point in Broward County. Pine Island was left high and dry as the ocean waters receded and the Everglades came into existence about 7,000 years ago. It became an island again but this time in the River of Grass. Its high elevation made it ideal for human settlement, and Pine Island has been inhabited for at least the past 4,000 years, first by the Tequestas until the 1700s, then by the Seminoles in the 19th century, then by white settlers in the 20th century. During the Seminole era, Pine Island was part of the domain of Chief Sam Jones, who also ruled over nearby Long Key, now Long Key Nature Center.
During the 20th century, it was a Boy Scout camp and orange groves. In the 1980s, Pine Island Ridge was slated to become a housing development; the surrounding land did become housing, but Florida bought the tract that is now the natural area in 1989 and leased it to Broward County for development as a preserve. Broward County added a little more than 2 acres to Pine Island Ridge Natural Area in separate deals in 2003 and 2015.
What You'll See: Tree Tops Park is the manicured side of this duo, while Pine Island Ridge Natural Area is the wild, untamed side. Both are worth exploring. The massive and ancient oaks of Tree Tops Park are a haven for birds; the dry, sandy soil and xeric hardwood hammock of Pine Island Ridge is a refuge for gopher tortoises, while the wetlands harbor water snakes, alligators, turtles and frogs. Tree Tops' observation tower brings you eye to eye with many of species that have found a home in the park's massive live oaks — resurrection fern, cardinal airplants, Spanish moss, ball moss and more. The margins of the lake near the park's entrance are worth exploring too.
Amenities: Tree Tops provides plenty of parking, drinking water and restrooms. There are picnic tables and pavilions, places to fish and more. Pine Island Ridge Natural Area has trails, a boardwalk, interpretive signs, an observation platform and more. For a full list of facilities check out their websites.
Nearby: Long Key Nature Center is about a five or ten-minute drive away; Vista View Park is a bit further away to the west. Both are withing the limits of Davie.
Links: The Great Florida Birding Trail's take on Tree Tops Park and Pine Island Ridge Natural area is here. The Institute for Regional Conservation's plant inventory for Tree Tops Park is here. The Institute for Regional Conservation's plant inventory for Pine Island Ridge Natural Area ishere.
Of Note:There is an entrance fee on weekends and holidays, which is waved for anyone entering on foot, by bicycle or by horse. Check the website (links above) for hours.
Cover Photo: A pileated woodpecker doing its thing in a live oak in Tree Tops Park.
Tree Tops is a traditional park, with picnic facilities, fishing, boating, horseback riding, bicycling and hiking. There is an observation tower that climbs into, well, the tree tops. Pine Island is more on the wild side, with trails weaving through an ancient stand of live oaks to a boardwalk that traverses the margins of a restored wetland.
Pine Island Ridge is the sandy remnant of what was a barrier island about 20,000 years ago, and is the highest natural point in Broward County at 29 feet above sea level. It's home to raccoons, squirrels, gopher tortoise, snakes and variety of birds and butterflies. The trails are fairly easy walking and a boardwalk cuts through a wetland.
Tree Tops Park covers 250 acres, while Pine Island Ridge Natural Area comes in at 102 acres. Combined, that's 352 acres of undeveloped land in the middle of heavily developed Broward Count. Impressive.
History: As noted above, Pine Island Ridge was barrier island 20,000 years ago and is now the highest natural point in Broward County. Pine Island was left high and dry as the ocean waters receded and the Everglades came into existence about 7,000 years ago. It became an island again but this time in the River of Grass. Its high elevation made it ideal for human settlement, and Pine Island has been inhabited for at least the past 4,000 years, first by the Tequestas until the 1700s, then by the Seminoles in the 19th century, then by white settlers in the 20th century. During the Seminole era, Pine Island was part of the domain of Chief Sam Jones, who also ruled over nearby Long Key, now Long Key Nature Center.
During the 20th century, it was a Boy Scout camp and orange groves. In the 1980s, Pine Island Ridge was slated to become a housing development; the surrounding land did become housing, but Florida bought the tract that is now the natural area in 1989 and leased it to Broward County for development as a preserve. Broward County added a little more than 2 acres to Pine Island Ridge Natural Area in separate deals in 2003 and 2015.
What You'll See: Tree Tops Park is the manicured side of this duo, while Pine Island Ridge Natural Area is the wild, untamed side. Both are worth exploring. The massive and ancient oaks of Tree Tops Park are a haven for birds; the dry, sandy soil and xeric hardwood hammock of Pine Island Ridge is a refuge for gopher tortoises, while the wetlands harbor water snakes, alligators, turtles and frogs. Tree Tops' observation tower brings you eye to eye with many of species that have found a home in the park's massive live oaks — resurrection fern, cardinal airplants, Spanish moss, ball moss and more. The margins of the lake near the park's entrance are worth exploring too.
Amenities: Tree Tops provides plenty of parking, drinking water and restrooms. There are picnic tables and pavilions, places to fish and more. Pine Island Ridge Natural Area has trails, a boardwalk, interpretive signs, an observation platform and more. For a full list of facilities check out their websites.
Nearby: Long Key Nature Center is about a five or ten-minute drive away; Vista View Park is a bit further away to the west. Both are withing the limits of Davie.
Links: The Great Florida Birding Trail's take on Tree Tops Park and Pine Island Ridge Natural area is here. The Institute for Regional Conservation's plant inventory for Tree Tops Park is here. The Institute for Regional Conservation's plant inventory for Pine Island Ridge Natural Area ishere.
Of Note:There is an entrance fee on weekends and holidays, which is waved for anyone entering on foot, by bicycle or by horse. Check the website (links above) for hours.
Cover Photo: A pileated woodpecker doing its thing in a live oak in Tree Tops Park.
>
