Palm Point Nature Park

Location: 7401 Lakeshore Drive Directions: Palm Point is located five miles east of Downtown Gainesville, on Lakeshore Drive. Take University Avenue east to Lakeshore Drive. Turn right on Lakeshore Drive, follow road around lake and Palm Point will be on your left. The location is marked with green street signs. Reaching out from the surrounding shoreline, Palm Point is a true gem among Gainesville’s Nature Parks. The overhead calls of osprey mix with the whistling of the majestic bald eagle. In their season, the calls of traveling warblers hold a place under the shady live oaks and palms. Palm Point’s unique geographic location makes it a magnet for some of the most spectacular migratory and local bird populations, while the deep water provides some of the best bank fishing this close to town. Hours: Park hours from dawn to dusk daily. Information: 352-393-8756 Natural Communities: This 16.1 acre park is a peninsula that extends 750 from the western shore of Newnans Lake. Half of the park is Floodplain Swamp dominated by stately cypress trees, while majestic live oaks and sable palm canopy the upland portion of the park. Portions of the upland have been converted to a wildflower demonstration area. The fall bloom and subsequent butterfly flight is a spectacular sight. Newnans Lake is a shallow Clastic Upland Lake. The deepest point of the lake is located at the tip of Palm Point Park. The lake supports abundant wildlife, including a large population of alligators that can often be seen from the shore of Palm Point. The bird population of Palm Point is so varied and abundant, that it is known throughout Florida as a birding hotspot. Cormorants, osprey, bald eagles, herons, egrets, and ibis are commonly encountered, and during the spring and fall a variety of neo-tropical migrant use this little piece of land as a stopping point. Amenities: Park benches, picnic table, and limited parking.