Take a free ‘Walk in the Park’ February 11

Published on January 30, 2026

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Flagler County Land Management invites a limited number of residents to its guided tour series called a “Walk in the Park.” The next walk will be held at Princess Place Preserve – 2500 Princess Place Road, Palm Coast – in an area that is called the Sandhill Section.

This tour begins at 9 a.m. sharp on February 11 and is limited to 15 registrants. Participants are asked to arrive a little early (8:45 a.m.) for the safety briefing, and additional details about the two-hour hike. The hike is described as “easy” – on sandy trails and service roads. 

Ralph Risch, Natural Resource Specialist 3, will guide the walk.

“During this hike we will look at overgrown sandhill habitat that has become upland hardwood hammock. We will also see restored, healthy sandhill, which is a unique and increasingly rare Florida habitat due to fire suppression and conversion to citrus,” Risch said. “We will examine the plant species typical of sandhill, such as wiregrass and turkey oak and longleaf pine, and discuss some of the animals that can be found there. This includes the striped newt, for which Princess Place Preserve and the adjacent Pellicer Conservation area are the third largest population in the world based on the number of breeding ponds these threatened amphibians use. Additionally, many wintering migrant birds will be there as they fatten themselves up in preparation for spring migration.”

Participants who register (an account must be created) – and sign the two waivers: liability and photo/video release – will meet at 8:45 a.m. the park’s equestrian parking area, roughly 1.25 miles from the entrance. Registration is open through February 10.

Those who are participating should:

  • Expect a two-hour hike
  • Bring a personal water bottle for hydration
  • Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes
  • Use sunscreen and insect repellent as preferred
  • Bring binoculars for enhanced bird watching

Directions:

  • Go north along Old Kings Road from Palm Coast to the Princess Place Preserve entrance on the right.  Or, take U.S.1 north to the junction with Old Kings Road at the roundabout to approach Princess Place from the north. The entrance is about 1.5 miles southeast from there.
  • At the Princess Place Preserve sign, turn east into the preserve.
  • Drive east about one mile to the open gate through the wooden fence and go through that gate.
  • Drive about another ¼ mile and the equestrian parking area will come up left/north side – park there. 

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