The Preserve at The Port District

The Preserve at The Port District is a 13-acre conservation area in Port St. Lucie. It sits at the southernmost point of The Port District, the city’s riverfront area along the North Fork of the St. Lucie River. The city held the ribbon cutting on March 4, 2026.

The trail network is about 3,000 feet long, or roughly half a mile. The trails wind through a patch of woods and wetland, with elevated walkways, bridges and nature overlooks along the wetland. Five entrances serve the preserve: one near the Pioneer Park playground, two at the riverside boardwalk and two on Westmoreland Boulevard.

The Preserve connects directly to the Port District boardwalk. The boardwalk is a 4,300-foot elevated walkway that runs more than three-quarters of a mile from Rivergate Park to the preservation tract. You can combine the boardwalk and the preserve trails into one longer walk along the river and through the wetland.

The Preserve lies between The Port District and the Anchorage gated community. It is a short, urban nature walk, and boat engines on the river can be heard from the trails. The grounds are open from dawn until dusk.

Facilities include parking, ADA restrooms and a canoe and kayak launch. Fishing is permitted. The restrooms near the Port District parking lot carry a concrete mural of mangroves and wildlife by local artist Brenda Leigh.

Construction began in August 2025 and cost $971,531. The Florida Inland Navigation District provided a $400,000 grant through its Waterway Assistance Program, and the rest came from the city’s Parks Impact Fee Capital Improvement Project. The Preserve is part of the city’s Naturally PSL: Green Spaces and Places Initiative, which expands public access to parks, trails and natural areas.

The rest of The Port District is within walking distance. Pioneer Park is a 9.75-acre park with an interactive playground, a water play area, a green wall and public art. The refurbished Historic Peacock Lodge and House hold the History Museum and Education Center, run by the Port St. Lucie Historical Society. The event lawn and overwater stage host concerts and festivals.

The Port St. Lucie Botanical Gardens is next door. It covers 21 acres of themed landscapes, including a butterfly garden. Next to The Preserve, the city is developing The Grove, a planned riverfront dining district with restaurants and bars. For a longer hike, Oxbow Eco-Center has more trail mileage farther north along the same river.