"New Beginnings"   Christopher Vandello, Park Manager

Savannas Preserve has seen many new beginnings in its life as a state park, just as nature carved and transformed the landscape that formed its foundation. These lands that once formed a coastal dune and lagoon have changed to the Scrub Ridge and Freshwater Basin Marsh that form its landscape today. In June 2016 we opened the doors on a new addition to our education center, bringing in a new wealth of knowledge to youth. We also opened the gates to a new canoe launch on the St. Lucie River, bringing new recreational opportunities. 

Savannas’ premiere education center initially opened its doors 14 years ago. Since then, it has been the hub of the park and has educated many school children on the "wilds of nature." The new addition includes a working science lab to provide students a more in-depth study of nature. It offers added lecture space to share the park’s precious resources to an ever expanding audience. Both buildings closed for renovations starting October 2021.

Our other project, a new recreational facility, was created across from the Walton Road Publix on U.S. 1. The new Evans Creek Canoe Launch is a gateway to the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. The new facility provides visitors with greater access to recreational opportunities in this portion of the park—a chance to paddle and see a natural creek teeming with wading birds and other wildlife, and to see a natural landscape in the middle of an ever-expanding city. The new facility binds the two areas of the park, the Savannas-Basin Marsh and the Savannas-St. Lucie River, together as one.

With these new beginnings park staff and volunteers look forward to visitors creating new memories, enjoying new recreational adventures, and experiencing new educational opportunities.

Above: An inside look at the construction phase of the brand new lecture hall and wet lab addition to the existing Education Center.

Above: The completed lecture hall and wet lab.