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A self-guided adventure through wild Florida
The “Discover Duette Self-Guided Adventure” is sponsored by
Manatee Fish and Game Association and Manatee County’s
Parks and Natural Resources Department. Special thanks
to contributors Merrie Lynn Parker, Dick Eckenrod, Charlie
Hunsicker, Johnny McLeod, Michael Elswick, Mark Proch,
Aedan Stockdale, and Melissa Nell.
The “Discover Duette Self-Guided Adventure” was created
in memorial of Roy “Chick” Parker. Chick Parker was born
and raised in Manatee County. An avid outdoors-man, he
was appointed by the County Commissioners to serve on
the ELMAC Advisory Committee that wrote the ��rst land
management plan for Duette and Emerson Point Preserves.
He advocated tirelessly for a controlled hunt program at
Duette. He is a Life Member of Manatee Fish and Game
Association, Inc.
The Manatee Fish and Game Association was established
in 1935. Its role is to serve as Stewards Conserving Our
Resources and Environment (SCORE) by proactively
participating with the community by leading, advising,
funding, educating, promoting, practicing, and modeling
sound practices to conserve ��sh and wildlife and its habitat.
Contributions to Duette Preserve include contracting with The
Nature Conservancy to do a complete inventory of plants and
animals and to make suggestions included in the preserve’s
Land Management Plan. In recent years, the Association has
sponsored, in partnership with
Manatee County’s Park and
Natural Resource Department,
four free annual wagon
tours guided by professional
naturalists and park rangers.
The Association also provided
matching funds donated for a
��tting memorial to Chick Parker
resulting in this self-guided tour
material.
Chick Parker
Manatee County Parks and Natural Resources is responsible
for the management of over 27,000 acres of natural land. From
coastal sand dunes to inland pine forests, the Department
plans, maintains, and restores land selected for conservation.
The Department also provides a wide variety of educational
and volunteer programs within the County’s preserves and
parks. As part of the Department’s educational outreach,
County staff developed this tour. All creation of text copy,
layout, and design of the tour was created in house. Photos
were provided by County staff and volunteers.