Riverside Park Boardwalk
Sound
On/Off
[ Date ]
02 13 2026
This site occupies a shallow, brackish lagoon within an Atlantic barrier-island estuary. A bridge connects the island to the mainland, and a public pier supports boating and fishing.
[ Geographic Features ]
Estuary, Lagoon, Shoreline, Mangrove Fringe, Coastal Plain
[ Patterns of Land Use ]
Public Park, Boardwalk, Waterfront Access, Transportation Corridor
[ Data Set ]
3:35 PM EST
29.022944, -80.919333
66° F, 18.8° C, 60% RH, Sunny
Wind 10mph, Gusts 15 mph, Direction 21° NNE
A bridge frames the sky. Birds rise below in small, coordinated bursts. Mangroves press along the shoreline, their roots tangled and exposed. Oysters cluster in pale mounds just beneath the water, sunlight shifting across their shells. Small waves stir the silt, then the water clears.
A blimp drifts in the distance. A gull passes the light pole. Sailboats sit anchored in the channel, held by unseen lines. Palm fronds tilt in the breeze. Fishermen lower their lines from the wooden pier. A brown pelican drops toward the water and lifts again as traffic hums across the bridge above.
[ Plants ]
Red Mangrove
Common Names: Red Mangrove
Botanical Name: Rhizophora mangle
Red mangrove is a native coastal tree commonly found along shorelines and estuarine waters. It is identifiable by its distinctive arching prop roots that extend from the trunk into the water, stabilizing the tree in soft, tidal soils. These roots trap sediment, reduce erosion, and provide habitat for fish, oysters, and other marine life.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Rhizophoraceae
Genus: Rhizophora
Species: Rhizophora mangle – Red Mangrove
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Black Mangrove
Common Names: Black Mangrove
Botanical Name: Avicennia germinans
Black mangrove grows slightly inland from red mangrove in coastal wetlands. It is known for its vertical, pencil-like pneumatophores that protrude from the soil to allow oxygen intake in waterlogged conditions. Leaves are dark green on top and pale or silvery beneath. Black mangroves contribute to shoreline stabilization and provide important wildlife habitat.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Lamiales
Family: Acanthaceae
Genus: Avicennia
Species: Avicennia germinans – Black Mangrove
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Lesser Swine Cress
Common Names: Lesser Swine Cress
Botanical Name: Lepidium didymum
Lesser swine cress is a low-growing herb found in disturbed soils, lawns, and pathways. It spreads close to the ground with finely divided leaves and produces small, inconspicuous flowers followed by rounded seed pods. It is often considered a weed but thrives in compacted coastal and urban environments.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Lepidium
Species: Lepidium didymum – Lesser Swine Cress
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Virginia Pepperweed
Common Names: Virginia Pepperweed
Botanical Name: Lepidium virginicum
Virginia pepperweed is an upright annual or biennial herb common in sandy, disturbed, or coastal soils. It has narrow stem leaves and clusters of small white flowers that develop into flat, circular seed pods. It is native and adaptable, frequently found along roadsides and open areas.
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Lepidium
Species: Lepidium virginicum – Virginia Pepperweed