Renovating and Refreshing Lori Wilson Park

The Space Coast Office of Tourism began a multi-year project in Lori Wilson Park mid-2020 to refurbish many areas that needed refreshing and updating. The 32-acre park in Cocoa Beach hosted over 800,000 visitors in 2022 alone with more than 80% from outside the county – many attending two popular events, P1 powerboat racing at Thunder on Cocoa Beach and the Cocoa Beach Air Show. Two large funding sources a Tourism Development Council Capital Facilities grant ($2.76M) and use of the Beach fund ($1.25M) were authorized by the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners. These refurbishments included replacing the seven crossovers and connectors with a composite material that will last 30+ years (a massive improvement over using wood), completely renovating the dog park (with new sod, fencing, benches, trees, and sprinkler system), replacing shower towers and both the North- and South-side bathroom facilities, and an overhaul to the hammock by removing invasive plants and completely rebuilding the boardwalk.

History

Back in the 1970’s, the land was being used as an unofficial landfill. Florida State Senator, former County Commissioner, and Cocoa Beach resident Lori Wilson recognized that cleaning the area could return it to the former natural glory. She put together a matching funds plan with the county and state sharing in the purchase of the property and the trash was cleaned out by various Boys and Girls Clubs over several weeks. The community unanimously decided to name the park after Wilson, who was also a major proponent of manatee protection laws, the Equal Rights Act, and the removal of paid toilets in public women’s restrooms. Wilson was appointed by Gov. Claude Kirk to fill a vacancy on the Brevard County Commission in 1969 and was the first woman in the state to receive a gubernatorial appointment like this. She then was elected to a full term in 1970 and elected Chair in 1972, the first woman to do so. Later that year, she was the third woman elected to the Florida Senate and re-elected in 1974, serving until 1978. Wilson was an honorary director of the Central Florida Zoological Society and legislative director of the Florida Injured Wildlife Sanctuary. Lori Wilson passed away in 2019 at the age of 81, but her legacy lives on.

Mansfield Maritime Hammock

The Lori Wilson Park Maritime Hammock was renamed the Mansfield Maritime Hammock in August 2022 to honor the inspiring efforts of Phyllis and Howard Mansfield, volunteers who worked to protect this habitat for the birds that call it home. As long-time residents of Cocoa Beach, the Mansfields were deeply concerned about the health of the hammock, along with the dozens of types of migratory and native birds that visited the area, as it’s a part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. They removed exotic plants and litter from the grounds, cleaned bird feeders, maintained a watering pond, communicated local conditions to bird watchers, and planted hundreds of native plants in the city. Phyllis Mansfield recounted how she and others had thwarted potential plans to build another road through the hammock. She said, “This maritime hammock is a wonderful part of the greater Lori Wilson Park and I hope my friends - county residents, birders and volunteers - will all work to ensure this maritime hammock’s wildlife habitat will be restored by removing and replacing invasive plants with desirable bird attractors and a water feature.”

This article originally appeared in the 2023 Tourism Journal, published by the Space Coast Office of Tourism . You can view the complete article in the online version of the 2023 Tourism Journal  or request a hard copy of the 2023 Tourism Journal  be sent by mail. Print quantities are limited.