Charles "Sonny" McCoy Indigenous Park - Charles "Sonny" McCoy Indigenous Park often goes unnoticed in Key West because it's so small. It also doesn't look like a park. It's more of a preserve and garden for indigenous trees and plants of the FLorida Keys. There are about 75 various species of flora in the tiny stretch of land facing the Atlantic Ocean off Atlantic Boulevard, believe it or not. Most of the species are tropical trees, and about a dozen of them are endemic to the Florida Keys. Look for trees such as Lignum Vitae, Buttonwood and the Silver Palm tree.
McCoy Indigenous Park began in 1981 and is named after a five-term mayor of Key West. Local trees and plants have had a hard time surviving since arrival of settlers here in the 1800s. The settlers cleared the land to grow crops so many native plants were lost. The farmers also introduced non-native species which upsets the whole ecological system and makes it more difficult to restore native conditions for plants and trees.
Charles Sonny McCoy Park also features Key West Wildlife Rescue a wildlife trail and a pond. There's a bocce club that plays on the six courts in the evenings as well. Look for butterflies and lots of native insects that flock to the native plants and trees.
The park is located at the corner of White Street and Atlantic Boulevard.
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