Description: 127 acre park located at the south end of Gasparilla Island.

Vegetation Communities: Beach dune, coastal strand, maritime hammock, mangrove swamp, and beachfront.

Location: Located on Gasparilla Island (Boca Grande).   Follow the Boca Grande Causeway to Fifth Street turn right.   At Gilchrist turn left.   Four public parking beaches are along the way with the Lighthouse Museum at the south end of the island.

Amenities: Public beach, parking ($3 fee), restrooms, boardwalks, trails, fishing, swimming, birding, shelling, Lighthouse Museum.   The museum was built in 1890 and is one of the oldest structures found in Lee County. For information call 941-964-0375.

Birding by Kayak on Gasparilla Island: Lee County has a non-motorized boat launch at 19th Street. Free parking and an excellent put-in area. No picnic or restroom facilities. Paddling north from the launch, you will encounter uninhabited keys on the way to Gasparilla Sound and Charlotte Harbor. The southward paddle is through a residential area to Gasparilla Sound and Charlotte Harbor.

For further information on the web see:

1. http://tampa.about.com/library/parks/blgasp.htm
2. http://www.captiva.com/stateparks/Gasparilla.htm
3. http://www.fortmyers-sanibel.com/moreinfo.php/ZID23=7993/page=attr/ClassID=3
4. http://www.floridaparks.com/stprks/south_west/gasparillaisland.htm
5. http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/regions/westcentral/trails/gasparilla_island.htm

Animal Species:  You may not be able to see all these species

Birds that you may encounter year-round include:

 
 
Migrants that you may see:

 
 
Documented Mammals:

 
 
Documented Herps:

*Non-native Species