The abundance of nature is one of the most charming aspects of Victoria Park. Explore the nature trail that links the neighborhoods of Victoria Park in DeLand, winding through a nature preserve and landscaped streets. Pause and reflect, gazing at the waterlillies at one of the ponds. Watch the Sandhill Cranes circle the sky, or keep an eye out for a gopher tortoise. Whether you walk the trail for fitness or for education, you will have many opportunities to be mesmerized by nature's splendor...right in your own backyard.

With almost 40 percent of its 1,800 acres devoted to conservation, including preserves, wetlands and green space, Victoria Park, located in the historic college town of DeLand, Florida, has become a sanctuary for many native species. Victoria Park has set aside 151 acres as a preserve for populations of Florida scrub jays, sandhill cranes and gopher tortoises; all threatened species that thrive in the sandy oak scrub habitat. Residents have become used to observing animals such as these throughout the community and even right in their own backyards!

Victoria Park’s preservation efforts are easily noticed due to increases in populations of native species throughout the community. A perfect example is the community’s native bird population. Working to preserve habitat, the local Audubon chapter tallied the population of the area’s native bird species prior to the community's development. Through the community’s preservation efforts, there are higher populations of native birds, such as scrub jays, thriving throughout the community than when the study was originally conducted.

Speaking of our feathered friends, the sandhill crane has become the community’s unofficial mascot. The tall and slender birds, with the easily-identified bright red foreheads and call, are found throughout Victoria Park. Residents pay close attention to the “sandhill crane crossing” signs that are posted throughout the community to ensure no harm comes to them. The sandhill cranes are often found basking in the sand traps on the Victoria Hills Golf Course, with golfers playing around them to leave them undisturbed.

Additional preservation initiatives include relocating gopher tortoises from on-site developed areas to open space preservation areas. In addition, Victoria Park has set aside approximately 39 acres of wetlands and has proactively created 20 acres of wetlands and upland buffer to keep the community and its natural habitat thriving. These wetlands also provide a playground and water source for many of the area’s native species. The community has also worked with an environmental consultant to thin out thick stands of pine using prescribed burns and mechanical thinning of underbrush.

A Victoria Park resident recently stated, “We have had several new sandhill cranes in the area, plus some baby birds, squirrels and quail. How lucky we feel to be living here and enjoying these wonders of nature.”

Thank you for observing and protecting the natural habitats that help make Victoria Park such a great place to live.