Homes & Land of Southeast Coastal Georgia

St. Simons Islanders are passionate about their island. And many of them  more than a thousand households  show their support by becoming active members of the Land Trust. The groups mission is to preserve the natural and scenic character of our island  to preserve the natural beauty that drew people to the island in the first place.

What I find interesting is that about one-third of our members live on the island part-time. And they care just as much about our beautiful island as the full-time residents do, said Russ Marane, Land Trust President. Old-timers, newcomers, part-timers  all get fired up when a new opportunity opens up for protecting greenspace for island residents.

The first major donation to the Land Trust was a 40-acre property fronting Frederica Road that later became the John Gilbert Nature Trail. Highlights of the trail are a maritime forest, a majestic 200-year-old live oak nicknamed Johns Oak, and a viewing deck on the eastern marsh.

The latest project is the development of Frederica Park  the first new park on St. Simons in more than 50 years and the first on the north end of the island. The 20-acre park features playfields for soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, rugby, kite-flying, Frisbee, bocce, or just playing catch. Most of the park is devoted to the Alice Richards Botanical Trail, dedicated to the memory of a part-time Golden Isles resident whose estate provided a significant bequest to help fund the park. Island garden clubs have helped design the trail, which will feature native plant species, as well as a heritage garden and a childrens garden.

Running past the park is the five-mile Lawrence Road hiking/biking trail that connects Hampton Point on the north end with the historic mid-section of the island. Four miles of the trail have been completed, and the remainder should be built by the end of the year. Islanders and visitors alike have discovered the trail, and hundreds are using it daily.