Visit the Artificial Reef and Marine Life Park at 181 Bocilla Drive — also known as Driftwood Park — and discover where restoration meets beauty. Relax on driftwood benches, see 20 mini reefs filtering thousands of gallons of water daily, and spot hanging oyster shells that help bring life back to the Intracoastal Waterway.
We invite you to come and relax at the Artificial Reef and Marine Life Park, where you can enjoy quality time with family on the dock or one of our driftwood benches. Take in the beauty of our artificial reef, featuring captivating mini reef habitats beneath the docks, vibrant vertical oyster gardens, and lush mangrove canopies. While you’re here, explore the importance of saving seagrass and learn about our ‘Friendly Boating’ initiatives. Together, we can discover how to preserve our precious aquatic environments.
View at the Artificial Reef & Marine Life Park
Our Mini Reef Program brings new life to the waters beneath our docks. Each reef supports thriving marine habitats and filters up to 30,000 gallons of seawater a day — helping our bays grow clearer and more vibrant. You can purchase a reef for your own dock or donate one to our Marine Life Park, becoming part of a movement that restores balance, beauty, and life to our island’s coastal waters. Contact Us For Details.
View at the Artificial Reef & Marine Life Park
Our Oysters for Clean Water program is all about bringing oyster power to our waters through Vertical Oyster Gardens (VOGs) — simple strings of oyster shells hung beneath docks that help filter the water and create habitat for marine life. Building on the success of our pilot projects at the Marine Life Park and Artificial Reef, we’re excited to expand this initiative and invite the community to join us. By adding oyster gardens at your own dock, you’ll be part of restoring thriving reefs, enriching biodiversity, and promoting cleaner, healthier water for everyone.
Seagrass meadows are vital to healthy coastal waters, keeping them clear by trapping sediment and stabilizing the ocean floor. These flowering plants provide food for manatees and nursery habitats for countless marine species, yet they’re easily damaged by pollution and shallow-water boating. You can help protect them by trimming your motor in shallow areas, avoiding boating over seagrass beds, and pushing off gently if you run aground. Together, we can keep these underwater meadows thriving.
Artificial Reef & Marine Life Park
Learn about the Florida Friendly Boating Program and discover what boaters can do to protect Florida’s waters and wildlife. Wear your life jacket, watch for sea life, and follow the no-wake zones. Designate a lookout person responsible for avoiding manatees or sea turtles. Save lives by properly discarding fishing line and plastics, and choose circle hooks and non-stainless steel hooks that minimize harm to fish and can rust and dissolve if left behind. Give manatees and sea turtles plenty of space so they can carry on their natural behaviors
Come into our park with new eyes and discover the enchanting world of mangroves! When you look deeper, you’ll find a magical forest sheltering playful crabs, elegant herons, and vibrant fish like snapper and grouper, all while playing a vital role in our coastal ecosystem. Be sure to read the signs and plaques to learn more about the different types of mangroves and their importance in supporting local fisheries. Then, take another look at the mangroves in your own environment with a fresh perspective. Together, let’s learn how to protect these wonders by keeping trash out and following DEP regulations in Charlotte County. Join us in celebrating and safeguarding this incredible treasure!
Join our conservation programs to protect and restore our island’s ecosystems. Volunteer your time and talents, make a donation to support essential resources, or participate in our adoption program by nurturing sea oats or mangrove propagules, or adopting a mini reef to aid in marine life restoration.
The resilience of our park reflects the incredible dedication of our volunteers. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton, they’ve worked tirelessly—clearing debris, re-mulching paths, replanting native species, and restoring hidden benches. Their efforts have renewed our artificial reef and Marine Life Park, helping us rebuild and celebrate the vibrant ecosystem that defines our island.
Kelly Lube, a dedicated board member and volunteer, has spent countless hours working to restore our parks. She took the initiative to find driftwood benches for visitors to relax and enjoy. After the hurricanes, she was the first to arrive, clearing debris, replanting native species, and rejuvenating the park pathways.
We sincerely appreciate Corey for his kindness and dedication, always ready to give it his all. His unwavering support shines through as he hangs our Florida-friendly boating sign and contributes to our community initiatives.
As one of our youngest volunteers, Lily works diligently to water the native garden in our park, and we truly appreciate her efforts. It can be challenging to get water to the starter plants on some of our properties, making her dedication even more valued.
“I stumbled upon this park during a golf cart ride, and it was truly unforgettable. This experience offered an unexpected adventure. It’s the kind of experience you hope for on a vacation—a chance to spend quality time with family while engaging in something meaningful. I’m especially grateful to have met Kelly, who took the time to show us around, educate us about the park’s resources, and share the importance of the habitat. Thank you for this amazing place!” -Rod
“I discovered the park by chance during a quiet morning walk and felt compelled to sit for a while on one of the benches overlooking the water. Watching the mini reefs below, teeming with new life, I found myself reflecting on how deeply connected we all are — people, wildlife, and the waters that surround us. It was a moving reminder that every small effort to care for this place truly matters.” -Rose
I was showing my family around the island when we came across Driftwood Park — what a beautiful surprise! After looking up the Conservancy online, I was so excited to share your conservation efforts in action. My family loved learning about the mini reefs, oyster restoration, and all the ways this park is helping bring life back to the water. -Sarah
Our programs are designed for volunteers eager to learn about the ecosystem! Participate in activities such as building Vertical Oyster Gardens, propagating mangroves, restoring shorelines, and planting sea oats. Unlike traditional lectures, these hands-on experiences allow you to engage directly with the environment and make a tangible impact.
Volunteer Island Cleanup Team
The Clean Islands volunteer team is dedicated to preserving the beauty of our island. Our passionate group of volunteers comes together to clean vital areas, including easements and beach access points, ensuring our environment remains vibrant and accessible. Thanks to our generous community members and visitors, we have successfully removed approximately 10 tons of construction debris and 6 tons of vegetation, all fueled by the energy and big hearts of our volunteers. Join us in making a real difference—get involved and help us keep BOCILLA Island beautiful.
Coming this Fall 2025
Join us in this vital mission to protect and revitalize our aquatic ecosystems! VOGs consist of oyster shells strung together with lengths of rope, designed to hang below docks. Building on the success of our pilot projects at the Marine Life Park and Artificial Reef, we are excited to introduce our upcoming program this fall. This effort not only aims to enrich our park’s biodiversity but also encourages community members to establish similar gardens at their docks.
20 Mini Reefs were installed by Ocean Habitat on May 17, 2023 at the Artificial Reef & Marine Life Park.
If you have a dock, you can purchase your very own Mini Reef, and we’ll help you install it. And if you don’t have a dock, you can still join the fun by adopting a Mini Reef that will be installed at a host location or one of our parks. Best of all, you can adopt a portion of a Mini Reef — every contribution helps, and together we’ll build reefs that clean the water and bring marine life back to our islands. Each Mini Reef filters up to 30,000 gallons of seawater daily while creating a habitat for fish and other marine life.
We are proud to be a Nationally Certified Wildlife Habitat Community, recognizing that our community as a whole met the requirements by certifying 40 individual properties and providing ongoing education that supports and celebrates wildlife conservation.
Receiving a Certified Wildlife Habitat® designation from the National Wildlife Federation means that your property provides the essential elements wildlife need to thrive—food, water, cover, places to raise young, and sustainable practices that support the local ecosystem. This certification recognizes your commitment to creating and maintaining a healthy environment where native plants and animals can flourish.
Explore our collection of cherished memories from community events.
Be the first to learn about our Island Living lecture series and exciting fundraisers, where we unite to support preservation and environmental education! Stay informed about our upcoming clean-up events and hands-on demonstrations in our parks, like creating oyster strings that benefit our beautiful shores!
Bocilla Islands Conservancy Overview
Bocilla Islands Conservancy is a public, nonprofit, non-political organization working in partnership with the residents of the Bocilla Islands chain, including Don Pedro Island, Knight Island, Little Gasparilla Island, and Thornton Key. Our mission is dedicated to the long-term preservation of open, undeveloped spaces and natural habitats across the Bocilla Islands. The Conservancy can customize conservation easements through land acquisition, ensuring sensitive habitats are preserved and protected to maintain the ecological balance of the islands.
Disclaimer:
The content provided on this website is for informational purposes only and reflects the views and opinions of Bocilla Islands Conservancy members. It is not intended as legal, financial, or professional advice. Bocilla Islands Conservancy assumes no responsibility for errors, omissions, or the accuracy of the information provided. Visitors are encouraged to consult qualified professionals regarding any concerns or decisions. By using this site, you agree that Bocilla Islands Conservancy and its contributors shall not be held liable for any actions taken based on the information presented here.