Dunedin's Hammock Park Historical Perspectives
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Bayshore Blvd. / Blvd. Bayshore North Entrance Michigan Blvd. (foot trail only) Pinehurst Rd .2 mile / Keene Rd 1 mile ➞ Bays Harvard Avenue Legend Alternate 19 North 19 Alternate Pinellas Trail Pinellas GPS survey by City Engineering Department 2007 Other mapping 2016 by the Private Property State of Florida Natural Feature Friends of the Hammock in cooperation with Dunedin Parks and Recreation Cedar Creek Pines Main Entrance — 1900 San Mateo Drive, Dunedin, Florida Auto Road Mangroves Ed Eckert Dr. Paved Foot Trail Dunedin Boardwalk Private Fisher Field Nature Highlander Pool, Foot Trail Marsh Property Greater Dunedin Center Splashpark and Tidal Creeks Little League Osprey Trail playground Shelters Benches Osprey Loop & Interpretive Sign Disc Golf Course Parking Scale in Feet Parking 0 100 200 300 Cedar Trail Harvard Grassy Areas (activities) 1 ⁄4 mile Entrance Rest (foot trail only) Wooded Preserve Main Cedars Park Boundary (98 acres) Entrance † Rooms (and Parking) Douglas Ave. Douglas Andrews San Mateo Drive Memorial Play- Chapel 1 ground Skinner Trail ⁄3 mile Butterfly Garden Trail Oak Oak Jackmar Rd. Circle Hickory Lake Circle Suemar S S u u Grant Trail Grant Trail g g Palm Trail a a r r b b e e 1 Ferns r r 5 Mary Jane Ln. r Cline Trail ⁄ mil e r 1 Private Property y y Fern Trail ⁄4 mile T T 1 r r ⁄ 2 1 a a mil ⁄ 4 i i mil l l e W E Hardwoods e a e s s t t Bayhead Robmar Rd. Patricia Ave. Sugarberry il ra Entrance T Mira s (foot trail only) e l Vista Dr. t Harris t e 1 Trail Bayhead K Kettles Trail ⁄ 5 mile Suemar Rd. Pines & San Mateo Drive Palmetto Santa Anna Dr. Anna Santa Palmettos Trail Harris Dunedin’s Hammock Park Woods Sand Pines Gopher Trail Entrance McCarty St. (limited parking) “The Hammock” is an ancient 98-acre mixed-hardwood Private Property forest filled with more than 300 native species of trees, McFarland St. Private Property shrubs, ferns, wildflowers and small animals. In addition, Patricia Ave. over 100 species of birds inhabit the preserve throughout McLean St. Formerly known as the “Kerr Tract,” Hammock Park was the year. purchased by the City in 1965 for $175,000. In 1974, the Of the 98 acres, 75 acres are a “low” hardwood and palm Dunedin Garden Club helped create the first self-guided hammock, with a dark, rich soil that supports a more nature trail (Sugarberry Trail West) and biologists began the varied and denser vegetation than the surrounding sandy studies and identification of flora and fauna (see “wildlife” uplands. One of the most conspicuous features of the on hammockpark.org). hammock are large, 100-year-old hardwood trees, some The Growing Hammock upward to 3 feet in diameter. The tallest trees, reaching 80 to 90 feet, are Sweetbays. They are becoming rare In 2007, the City annexed the eastern 5.3-acre area known as they succumb to age, drought and invasive vines. as the Harris tract. In 2016, it added 8.7 acres of adjoining forest to the south, thereby preserving even more pristine Historical Perspectives land from development. When Florida joined the Union in 1845, the U.S. Historically, it is a part of nature that will permanently Government sent a geodetic team to survey the entire be preserved in this quickly changing community. state. The Dunedin Historical Society has a copy of the Environmentally, it purifies and reoxygenates the air, drains original 1846 survey map of the Dunedin area, with the and purifies runoff water from surrounding areas, and park identified as “Wet Swamp.” The surveyors’ field provides food and shelter for animals and birds. Socially, it notes referred to it as “a hammock.” Remarkably, the provides a natural beauty for the soul and a peaceful respite north-south boundaries of the park set by this 158-year for the body. Educationally, it provides a chance for adults old survey remain to this day. and children to enounter a piece of “real Florida.” In 1994, the Friends of the Hammock, Inc. was established to help preserve the natural state of the park for future generations. State of Florida Natural Feature Through the generous involvement from volunteers such as the Boy Scouts; Junior ROTC; Bay Bouquet and Dunedin Garden Clubs; Dunedin Nature Center; Dunedin Tree Bank; private businesses and the Dunedin Parks Department, the Friends of the Hammock continues to create community awareness of the natural treasure of this unique park. With a management plan in place to remove invasive exotics; reforest with native trees; maintain trails and contain drainage erosion, the park continues to be a source of joy for the entire community. The Hammock Needs YOU! Become a member of Friends of the Hammock and join the ranks of enlightened people who are dedicated to preserving and protecting this remarkable forest for future generations. Membership categories are as follows: Corporate—$40; Family—$15; Individual—$10; Student—$5. Send your name, address, and a check payable to the Friends of the Hammock to: Friends of the Hammock Membership, c/o Parks and Recreation, Brochure made possible by Friends of the Hammock, Inc. 1900 San Mateo Drive 1920 Pinehurst Road, Dunedin, FL 34698. Visit us online at Hammockpark.org Dunedin, Florida.