Jan 19 2009
Party in the Park on Hutchinson Island, Florida
Several thousand visitors enjoyed live entertainment, educational Florida wildlife displays, historical preservation groups, and presentations by local conservation-minded clubs and organizations this weekend at the annual “Party in the Park” at the Florida State Inlet Park on Hutchinson Island. The function is free to the public.
Exhibitors included: Audubon—Regional Conservation for SE Florida, Blues Alliance, Florida Division of Forestry, Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, Friends of the Savannas, Harbor Branch, Heathcoate Botanical Gardens, Indian River Keeper, Keep Ft Pierce Beautiful, North Beach Association, Oxbow Eco Center, Salty Trails 4H Club, Sierra Club Loxahatchee Group, SLC Audubon, SLC Environmental Resources, SLC Extension Sea Grant, SLC Historical Society, SLC Humane Society, Smithsonian Institute, South Florida Water Management, St Lucie Historical Society, St Lucie Land Trust, Surf Riders Foundation, The Manatee Center, Treasure Coast Herpetological Society, Treasure Coast Wildlife Hospital, Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
The “Hot Sauce Boys,” “Wizbang Cloggers,” Oldtime Stories by Ada Coats Williams, “TC Barbershop Quartet,” and “The 4 Man Trio Jazz Band” entertained the crowds. Once again this year, Jeff Mitchell chaired the event. Some of our favorite displays are shown in photos below:
Children enjoyed learning “hands on” about Florida sea urchins and clams
Blue Crabs are indigenous to the Treasure Coast of Florida and migrate from the Intracoastal Waterway to the ocean seasonally to lay their eggs.
Just as in any natural environment, learning to identify native snakes is useful information, especially since there are a few that are poisonous. Visitors learned to avoid agitating snakes or trying to catch them.
The Florida Inlet State Park divides North Hutchinson Island from South Hutchinson Island. The Inlet was used during World War II as an army base and now serves as a commercial shipping port, especially for world-famous Indian River citrus. The area is rich in species diversity, including dolphins and manatees.