Photos by Michelle Swartz (top) & George Quittner (bottom)
Duette Preserve is Manatee
County’s largest conservation
land, with over 23,000 acres
of habitat set aside for
preservation. The property
was purchased in 1986 by
the County from phosphate
mining companies via voter
referendum. Since then, the
property has expanded with
several additional acquisitions,
and includes both the North
and East fork of the Manatee
River, serving as a protective
buffer around this portion of
the watershed.
While the land was acquired to protect the waters, the focus has
broadened into a wider view of insuring a diverse and healthy
system. Throughout this tour, preserve visitors will discover
the wide variety of habitats within the preserve as well as key
plants and animals that ourish in each of these areas. nique
historical features and stories from the preserve’s colorful
past will be related, tying in the human experience to the site.
The tour also includes visits to areas that showcase the many
restoration and preservation projects that have been completed,
and are currently ongoing, at the site.
The “Discover Duette Self-Guided Adventure” was created in
memory of Chick Parker, a longtime Manatee County resident
and active member of Manatee Fish and Game Association.
Together with his wife, Merrie Lynn, Chick was a driving force
in rst acquiring, then planning, protecting, and managing the
site. His support and input assisted in the development of the
site’s rst management plan, a County managed controlled hunt
program, and his guidance carried throughout the preserve’s
development.
We invite you to explore Duette, stepping into “wild Florida”
and discovering the beauty of the state’s native habitat.