Manatee County's Perico Preserve wins national environmental award

MANATEE -- A month before it opens to the public, Perico Preserve has already won a national environmental award.

The Rookery at Perico Preserve has won a 2016 National Environmental Excellence Award from the National Association of Environmental Professionals.

The project, 11700 Manatee Ave. W. on Perico Island, was selected because "it demonstrated verifiable results of innovation in compliance methodology and integration of decision making with environmental regulatory processes," according to the release sent by Stantec of Sarasota, which designed The Rookery.

"In the end, the Rookery at Perico Preserve showcases a commitment to improving fish and wildlife habitats on Florida's Suncoast, which has ultimately succeeded, as seen in this award-winning project."

The 175-acre preserve is scheduled to open at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 14.

In the center of the preserve, which has more than 100 plant species, there is a rookery island for wading birds.

"This team of professionals is grateful for the opportunity to assist Manatee County over the past seven years in achieving their vision of a restored coastal site in south Tampa Bay, Florida," Mike Burton, project manager for the Rookery at Perico Preserve, said in the release. "The success they have had on site demonstrates what is possible with determination and dedication to ecosystem conservation and restoration."

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter@Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 11:15 PM with the headline "Manatee County's Perico Preserve wins national environmental award ."