The Coquina Baywalk, Anna Maria Island

Coquina Baywalk is a park and nature preserve on Florida’s sunny southwest coast. It is located at the southern end of Anna Maria Island which is part of Leffis Key, a long, pencil-like peninsula floating between the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and Sarasota Bay. Coquina Beach, just across the street, is shaded by Australian pines and blanketed by soft white sand leading to crystal blue water.

Many varieties of fish, shellfish, birds and mammals make their home in this 30-acre park and estuary, including fiddler crabs, great blue herons, green herons, white egrets, brown and white pelicans, osprey and horseshoe crabs. Dolphins and manatees can sometimes be seen playing in the waves.

The trail system at Coquina Baywalk is just under a mile in length and features foot bridges, a boardwalk, benches and viewing platforms to view the bay, mangroves and abundant wildlife. Interpretive signs describing the plants and animal habitats can be found along the way. It is a perfect place for walking and viewing wildlife, natural elements and coastal vegetation such as sea oats, dune sunflower, beach elder and southern red cedar and mangrove trees.

Coquina Baywalk is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. The observation decks provide spectacular views of the Gulf coast sunsets. Popular park activities include boating, birdwatching, canoeing, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling and swimming.

Restoration on this tidal area began after Congress established the National Estuary Program in 1987. The program was developed to provide funds for protected coastlines and estuaries. The Sarasota Bay National Estuary Program, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Manatee County joined together to draft a proposal for funding with an objective of providing a habitat for young and spawning fish, restoring native habitats, improving the water circulation in the bay and providing public access and opportunities for education and enjoyment of nature. With its protective barriers of mangrove trees, lush vegetation and man-made sand dunes, Coquina Baywalk has become a model for other wetland restoration projects.