ABOUT

WHO WE ARE

Our Mission

To support sound environmental stewardship, promote passive recreation, encourage the appreciation of Florida’s natural environment, provide environmental education outreach, and promote sustainable environmental practices.

Our WORK

  • Funding Moccasin Lake programs

  • Providing nature-based educational experiences and tools

  • Volunteering to support park-efforts

  • and more! Check back soon for reports on our latest projects.

Green shrub with orange tubular flowers and variegated butterfly resting on leaves
Green shrub with orange tubular flowers and variegated butterfly resting on leaves

MEET THE OFFICERS

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Jason Mastropietro

With a vision for building something meaningful, our founder brings a blend of big-picture thinking and hands-on experience. They set the tone for everything we do.

Get in contact

President
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Vacant

Vice President

Interested in filling this position? Please email us at friendsmoccasinlake@gmail.com

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Ralph Till

Creative and strategic in equal measure, our marketing director brings fresh ideas to every campaign. They turn insights into action and help our message resonate with the right audience.

rascal1843@aol.com

Treasurer
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Secretary

Patricia Dalton

Friendly, attentive, and always ready to help, our customer service manager ensures every interaction is a positive one. They keep communication clear, timely, and human.

friendsmoccasinlake@gmail.com

A smiling woman with long dark hair, glasses, and a patterned top, in an indoor setting with plants and a window in the background.

Creative and strategic in equal measure, our marketing director brings fresh ideas to every campaign. They turn insights into action and help our message resonate with the right audience.

nita.cole@yahoo.com

Board Member

Nita Cole

A bald eagle perched on a wooden stand outdoors with a parking lot and trees in the background.

Friendly, attentive, and always ready to help, our customer service manager ensures every interaction is a positive one. They keep communication clear, timely, and human.

friendsmoccasinlake@gmail.com

Member at Large

Esmeralda Arauz

Our Story

A Walk Through Our History

From an industrial excavation to a beloved 51-acre nature preserve, the story of Moccasin Lake Nature Park is a story of community, wild restoration, and ongoing preservation in the heart of Clearwater.

  1. Early–Mid 20th Century

    A Crater Becomes a Lake

    Workers excavate a large dirt pit to construct the US 19 and Drew Street overpasses. Rainwater gradually fills the crater, quietly giving rise to what would one day be known as Moccasin Lake.

  2. Late 1970s

    Saved From Development

    The City of Clearwater rescues the 51-acre wilderness tract from a proposed low-income housing development — preserving the land as open space for generations to come.

  3. August 7, 1982

    The Park Opens

    Moccasin Lake Nature Park officially opens to the public, welcoming nearly 1,000 visitors during its debut weekend.

  4. 1980s–1990s

    The Raptor Sanctuary Takes Flight

    The park establishes its signature Raptor Sanctuary, providing lifelong care for permanently injured, non-releasable birds of prey — and introducing thousands of visitors to these remarkable ambassadors.

  5. 2014

    Free Access for All

    Clearwater eliminates all park admission fees, ensuring equitable, free access to nature for every member of the community.

  6. Recent Years

    Partners in Preservation

    The City and the nonprofit Friends of Moccasin Lake partner to fund major trail restorations, classroom upgrades, and invasive species removals — protecting the park for the next generation of explorers.