T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve: T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve is a 5.5-acre wetland conservation area and park located in Sarasota County, Florida. It is owned by the nonprofit organization Higher Power Solar and is operated by a group of dedicated volunteers. The land was originally part of the Pine Flat Woods State Wildlife Preserve. The reserve was established in 2000 and is named after the late Sarasota attorney T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Carlton is best known for his work defending the rights of the poor and needy, and his dedication to community service. Carlton was born in 1930 and graduated from the University of Florida Law School in 1953. He practiced law in Sarasota for almost 50 years, eventually becoming the city’s municipal attorney. He was an active member of the local bar association and a volunteer with the American Bar Association. Carlton died in 2010 at age 76.
Our T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve is a natural area in Sarasota County. This land was donated to the County in 2000 to be used for educational, scientific and ecological purposes. The land was named in memory of Mr. Carlton, a long-time member of the Board of Directors of the League of Florida Museums, who died in 2002. The reserve is open to the public, and is part of a larger area that has been purchased by the League of Florida Museums for the purpose of establishing a research laboratory.
On May 18th, 2017, T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve was dedicated at the entrance to the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Environmental Park in North Port, Florida. The reserve honors the memory of the beloved Sarasota resident who died in July of 2012 and is dedicated to the creation of a public park in his name. On the occasion of the dedication, Higher Power Solar, a local solar energy company, provided a donation for a solar power system to provide electricity for lights and the sound system. This will provide for a beacon for visitors of the park, a great resource for future generations to learn about the history of the area and for the local community to celebrate the life of a man who made a positive impact on so many people. The project was spearheaded by the Friends of T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve in collaboration with the Sarasota County Public Works Department and the Sarasota County Commission.
The Carlton Reserve T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve is a 2,300 acre nature preserve with over 100 different plant species including some rare, endangered, or endemic species. It is located in North Port, Florida. It was established in 1968 to commemorate the life and legacy of Carl H. Carlton Jr. In 2013, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The Reserve includes a number of different types of habitats, including upland hardwood hammock, lowland wet prairie, water oak scrub, pine flatwoods, and pine scrub. Habitats are characterized by their dominant vegetation and understory plants and animals. Each type of habitat contains many plant species that are uncommon or rare in the state. Habitats are grouped into two units, which are managed separately.