Serenity Walk Park — Attraction in Florida

Serenity Walk Park is a 99 acre preserve that is located along the western edge of Collier Boulevard north of Rattlesnake Hammock Road. This area was originally a mitigation project in response to the loss of 44 acres of wetlands for the Lely Area Stormwater Improvement project. Without a continuous drainage system the area was prone to flooding.

The county bought the land to create a park in 2002. They paid $2.75 million of which $1.1 million was a grant from the Florida Communities Trust through the Florida Forever land acquisition program. The park cost $150,000 to build.

Nonnative trees and plants were removed and the land was regraded to restore wetland functions. Almost 3,000 pine and cypress trees and more than 64,000 ground cover plants including native grasses Sara Cord grass, Love grass, soft rush, St. Johns Wart and lick wood were planted to restore the land. The park a mile long loop walking trail through pine flatwoods and a cypress pine mixed forest.and a picnic deck. The park opened in 2011 as the Lely Area Stormwater Improvement Project Mitigation Park but was renamed Serenity Walk Park the next year. In 2017 the park was shut for almost a year to make repairs after a fire in March and Hurricane Irma in September. There is a number of smaller trails that cross the main loop that used to be a larger extension trail that have been abandoned since Hurricane Irma. You can still see the trees that fell from the storm.

The park has only about a half dozen parking spots and a bike rack. During my visit every one of them was taken along with some creative parking but I was able to get a spot after waiting a few minutes. The trail is in full sun so it can get quite hot and it is sandy earth so it might be difficult for handicapped guests. Along the trail are interpretive signs about LASIP, the removal of invasive plants, wetland mitigation, and the restoration of wildlife habitats. If you are lucky you may spot an eagle or deer but I didn't see any wildlife during my hike.

Dogs are not allowed and there are no restrooms or water so bring your own. The park is open every day from 7 AM until sundown. It is so nice that Naples was able to restore this land and turn it into a park that everyone can benefit from. Over 10 years later it is still popular with people looking to exercise and...

The city never should have built such an isolated park. There are some real safety concerns here. When I went yesterday, there were four guys lurking around the parking lot. They waited in the woods for a few minutes and then started following me as soon as I started down the trail. I realized I was trapped—there was no other way to get out of this park without turning around and encountering them. I had to veer off the path and start walking through the woods, where they continued following me. I had to run through the woods to get back to the parking lot. Fortunately, by this point I had lost them, so I was able to jump in my car and escape. Someone had tried to shut the gates, but luckily, there was enough of an opening that I could still make it out. I’m lucky I got out, but that could have ended very badly. I have reported this to Parks and Rec. Please be aware that there are real safety risks by...

I've enjoyed the couple of times I've been to this park in the city. It's in the middle of the commotion of a busy street and neighborhoods, but once you start the walk, you get totally immersed in nature.

Yes, there's lots of road noise from Collier Avenue, but you are surrounded by pines and palms and cypress and ferns and I don't even know what else. I even saw some deer today, three of them!

All you view is trees and greenery, and it's really just a nice mile walk through nature when you need to get those vibes.

There's limited parking, four slots plus a handicap space, and no restroom facilities, but there is a picnic table on a...