Prescribed Burn at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

Prescribed Burn at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve

August 20, 2024 - The City of St. Petersburg's Parks & Recreations Department and the Kissimmee Valley Foresters are conducting a prescribed fire at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve on Tuesday, August 20, beginning around 10 a.m. The burn will be conducted in units 9, 10, 11, and 18 of the preserve, assuming favorable weather conditions. Units 8, 20, 21, 21a, 23b, and 24 may also be burned if conditions allow. All trails at the preserve will be closed for burn operation.

These units make up 84 acres of the preserve with trails. The map below shows the burn unit.

Prescribed burns are routinely done at the preserve for land management and environmental benefits that include reducing hazardous fuels, protecting communities from extreme fires, minimizing the spread of pest insects and disease, improving habitats, and promoting growth. Intervals between prescribed burns vary widely and are dependent upon the vegetation type, climate, and typography.

For more information, please contact Boyd Hill Nature Preserve at 727-893-7326 or visit boydhillpreserve.com.

About the Boyd Hill Nature Preserve
Operated and maintained by the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department, the 245-acre Boyd Hill Nature Preserve is home to Lake Maggiore Environmental Recreation Center, Pinellas Pioneer Settlement, the Terry Tomalin Campground and the Birds of Prey exhibit. The preserve offers a wide variety of educational programs and recreational services for all ages, including camps, classes, events, tours and trails. Visit stpeteparksrec.org/BoydHillPreserve to learn more.

About the St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department
The St. Petersburg Parks and Recreation Department is nationally accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies, and with 17 recreation facilities, nine swimming pools, over 150 parks and more than 70 athletic fields, the department makes it a mission to preserve and enhance the city's parklands and recreational facilities and engage the community in leisure activities. Visit stpeteparksrec.org to learn more.