Cedar Point Environmental Park

Cedar Point Environmental Park Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Cedar Point Environmental Park, Nature Preserve, 2300 Placida Road, Englewood, FL.

Cedar Point Environmental Park is a 115 acre nature preserve situated in Englewood, FL, and hosts education and outreach programs presented by the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center.

One simple way to help wildlife at night is to reduce unnecessary outdoor lighting.Artificial light can interfere with t...
08/28/2026

One simple way to help wildlife at night is to reduce unnecessary outdoor lighting.

Artificial light can interfere with the natural behaviors of many animals. Moths and other nocturnal insects can become attracted to lights, causing them to spend valuable energy circling instead of feeding or reproducing. Those insects are also an important food source for birds, bats, frogs, and other wildlife.

Artificial light can also affect animals that rely on natural darkness to navigate, hunt, rest, and avoid predators.

You don't have to sit in complete darkness. Consider turning off outdoor lights when they aren't needed, using motion sensors, or directing lights downward instead of allowing them to shine into trees and natural areas.

Something as simple as turning off a light at night can help make the environment around your home a little more natural.

Sometimes, helping wildlife means giving the night back to them.

One of the biggest ways we can help wildlife at home is by being thoughtful about how we manage insects and other pests....
08/27/2026

One of the biggest ways we can help wildlife at home is by being thoughtful about how we manage insects and other pests.

It can be tempting to reach for pesticides when we see insects in our gardens, but many of the insects we consider pests are also an important part of the ecosystem. Bees, butterflies, beetles, caterpillars, and other insects provide food for birds, lizards, frogs, and other wildlife.

Instead of treating everything you see as a problem, consider whether it actually needs to be removed. Native plants, healthy soil, and a diverse garden can naturally support a balance of insects and predators.

When treatment is necessary, consider less harmful options and avoid spraying flowering plants when pollinators are actively visiting them.

A yard doesn't need to be completely free of insects to be healthy.

In fact, a little bit of insect life can be a sign that your yard is supporting an entire food web.

Ways You Can Help Florida Wildlife in Your Yard: Leave the LeavesOne of the easiest ways to help wildlife in your yard i...
08/26/2026

Ways You Can Help Florida Wildlife in Your Yard: Leave the Leaves

One of the easiest ways to help wildlife in your yard is to stop treating every fallen leaf as something that needs to be removed.

Leaf litter is an important part of a healthy ecosystem. Fallen leaves provide shelter for insects, spiders, lizards, and other small animals. They also help retain moisture, protect the soil, and slowly return nutrients to the ground as they decompose.

Many butterflies and moths spend part of their life cycle in leaf litter, and countless tiny organisms depend on decaying plant material for food and shelter. Those insects then become food for birds, frogs, reptiles, and other wildlife.

Instead of removing every leaf, consider leaving some natural areas in your yard undisturbed. You can keep paths, driveways, and frequently used areas clear while allowing leaves to collect beneath trees and shrubs.

What may look messy to us can be incredibly valuable to wildlife.

A healthier yard doesn't always mean a perfectly manicured yard. Sometimes, helping nature means simply giving it a little room to work.

OUR FREE LIBRARY IS FULL! 📚WOW, Englewood community! We put out a call for book donations for our Free Library, and you ...
08/25/2026

OUR FREE LIBRARY IS FULL! 📚

WOW, Englewood community! We put out a call for book donations for our Free Library, and you all showed up!

Thank you to everyone who donated books and helped us fill our free library. Your generosity is helping us create a little place where neighbors, families, and visitors can discover a new story, learn something new, or simply enjoy a good book.

Now it’s YOUR turn!

Our Free Library is stocked and ready for you! Stop by the park, browse the shelves, and take a book (or two!) home with you. Find something you love, share it with someone else, and keep the love of reading moving through our community. ❤️

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who helped make this possible. We are so lucky to have such a generous community!

Come grab a book and enjoy a little reading adventure!

Ways You Can Help Florida Wildlife in Your Own YardYou don’t have to visit a nature preserve to make a difference for Fl...
08/25/2026

Ways You Can Help Florida Wildlife in Your Own Yard

You don’t have to visit a nature preserve to make a difference for Florida’s wildlife. The choices we make in our own yards can create valuable habitat for birds, butterflies, bees, and other animals.

Start by planting native species that are adapted to our local environment. Native plants such as firebush, beautyberry, coontie, saw palmetto, and sea grape can provide food, shelter, and nesting habitat for wildlife.

Consider replacing some areas of traditional lawn with native plants. A diverse landscape with different heights, flowers, shrubs, and trees provides much more habitat than a yard made up entirely of grass.

Avoid planting known invasive species and be careful about plants that can escape into nearby natural areas. Before purchasing a plant, look it up and make sure it is a good choice for Florida.

You can also reduce pesticide use, provide a shallow source of clean water, leave some natural leaf litter, and keep outdoor lighting to a minimum at night. Even small changes can make a difference.

Your yard is part of the larger ecosystem. What you plant, remove, and maintain can affect the wildlife living around you.

This week at Cedar Point, we’re talking about how the choices we make at home can help protect the natural world right outside our doors.

Native vs. Non-Native: What’s the Difference?A native plant is a species that naturally occurs in an area without being ...
08/24/2026

Native vs. Non-Native: What’s the Difference?

A native plant is a species that naturally occurs in an area without being introduced by humans. Florida’s native plants have developed alongside our local wildlife, soils, climate, and natural processes. They provide food, shelter, nesting sites, and other resources that local wildlife have adapted to use.

A non-native plant is one that was brought to an area outside of its natural range, either intentionally or accidentally. Being non-native does not automatically mean that a plant is harmful. Many non-native plants can exist in Florida without causing major problems.

The important distinction is between non-native and invasive.

An invasive plant is a non-native species that spreads aggressively and causes ecological, economic, or environmental harm. These plants can outcompete native species, change habitats, and reduce the resources available to native wildlife.

This is why knowing what grows around us matters. Not every plant that doesn't belong here is a problem, but understanding the difference helps us make better decisions about our landscapes and protect Florida's natural communities.

Plants of Cedar Point: A Special Thank YouAs we wrap up our week of celebrating the plants of Cedar Point, we want to gi...
08/22/2026

Plants of Cedar Point: A Special Thank You

As we wrap up our week of celebrating the plants of Cedar Point, we want to give a special shoutout to our local Mangrove Chapter of Florida Native Plant Society for the time and care they have shared with us.

We are grateful for their time spent in our garden observing and identifying flowers, learning more about the plants growing here, and helping us better understand the native species that make our garden and park so special.

Their knowledge and passion for Florida’s native plants are a wonderful resource for our community, and we truly appreciate the time they have dedicated to Cedar Point Environmental Park.

Thank you for helping us grow our knowledge, our garden, and our appreciation for the incredible plant life around us.

Plants of Cedar Point: MangrovesFor our Friday plant spotlight, we’re taking a closer look at one of the most important ...
08/21/2026

Plants of Cedar Point: Mangroves

For our Friday plant spotlight, we’re taking a closer look at one of the most important plants along Florida’s coast: the mangrove.

Mangroves are specially adapted to life where land meets saltwater. Their tangled roots help stabilize shorelines, reduce erosion, and provide shelter for young fish, crabs, shrimp, birds, and countless other species.

Mangrove forests are also important for protecting coastal communities. They can help absorb wave energy during storms and trap sediment, helping to protect the shoreline.

At Cedar Point Environmental Park, mangroves are an important part of the coastal ecosystem surrounding Lemon Bay. What may look like a collection of tangled trees is actually a complex nursery, shelter, and feeding ground for wildlife.

Plants of Cedar Point: SawgrassSawgrass is one of the plants that helps define Florida’s wetlands and coastal landscapes...
08/20/2026

Plants of Cedar Point: Sawgrass

Sawgrass is one of the plants that helps define Florida’s wetlands and coastal landscapes, and you can find it growing throughout Cedar Point Environmental Park.

Despite its name, sawgrass is not actually a true grass. It is a sedge, and its long, narrow leaves have sharp edges that can give you a pretty good reason to keep your hands to yourself when exploring!

Sawgrass plays an important role in wetland ecosystems. Its dense growth provides shelter and nesting habitat for wildlife, while its roots help hold soil together and slow the movement of water.

As sawgrass grows, dies back, and decomposes, it also contributes organic material to the ecosystem and helps support the food web.

Plants of Cedar Point: Live OakThe live oak is one of the most iconic trees in the Southeast, and you can find these bea...
08/19/2026

Plants of Cedar Point: Live Oak

The live oak is one of the most iconic trees in the Southeast, and you can find these beautiful, long-lived trees throughout Cedar Point Environmental Park.

With their wide, spreading branches and thick, twisting trunks, live oaks create valuable habitat for countless species. Their branches provide nesting and resting areas for birds, while their acorns provide an important food source for wildlife.

Live oaks are also home to an incredible variety of insects, lichens, mosses, and other plants. A single mature oak can become its own little ecosystem, supporting life from the ground all the way into its canopy.

Their strong root systems help anchor the soil, while their broad canopy provides shade and helps create cooler conditions beneath the tree.

find more information with our native plant society here: https://www.fnps.org/plant/quercus-virginiana .tab=0

Next time you walk beneath one of Cedar Point’s live oaks, take a moment to look up. There may be an entire ecosystem living above you.

Address

2300 Placida Road
Englewood, FL
34224

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4pm
Tuesday 8am - 4pm
Wednesday 8am - 4pm
Thursday 8am - 4pm
Friday 8am - 4pm
Saturday 8am - 4pm

Telephone

+19414750769

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Cedar Point Environmental Park posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Cedar Point Environmental Park:

Shortcuts

Share

Category