| Castaway Island Preserve | |
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| Location | 2921 San Pablo Road South,Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 30°17′35″N81°26′12″W / 30.2930694°N 81.4366009°W /30.2930694; -81.4366009 |
| Area | 311 acres (1.26 km2) |
| Opened | June 5, 2004[1] |
| Designer | England-Thims & Miller |
| Operated by | Jacksonville Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services |
| Open | Year round, sunrise to sundown |
| Awards | Award of Honor,American Society of Landscape Architects[2] |
| Website | Castaway Island Preserve |
Castaway Island Preserve is a 311-acre nature park in easternJacksonville, Florida that abuts the west bank of theIntracoastal Waterway. It received anAward of Honor in 2004 from theAmerican Society of Landscape Architects[2] and iswheelchair accessible.[3]
The 311 acres (1.26 km2) is a salt marshEstuary with pine flatwood islands, wetland flatwood forests and upland hardwood forests.[2] The preserve is surrounded by residential neighborhoods west and south[4] with the historic San Pablo River (intracoastal waterway) to the east.[5]Wildlife includes gopher tortoises, rattlesnakes, Osprey, Ibis and wood storks[5]
The preserve includes three parcels purchased in the year 2000. Initially, 235 acres was acquired on July 28th; 25 acres on September 11th; and 49 acres on December 8th. AFlorida Communities Trust (FCT) grant reimbursed the city $1,427,754 of the $3,653,353 total. It was determined that the property containedintroduced species, so the project manager applied for and was awarded an $18,000 grant from theFlorida Department of Environmental Protection for on-site removal, which was completed. Canoe launch, trails and parking were constructed at a cost of $700,000. A state grant fromFlorida Inland Navigation District (FIND) paid for half of those costs and the paved trails and wooden boardwalks arewheelchair accessible.[3] Planning, engineering, landscape architecture, construction and grant services were provided byEngland-Thims & Miller.[2]