Coastal Oaks at Vero Beach

Coastal Oaks Preserve in Vero Beach is a 226-acre restoration project led by the Indian River Land Trust in partnership with Coyle & Caron Landscape Architecture and Cherrylake. The site features a diverse range of Florida ecosystems, including freshwater wetlands, oak-palm hammocks, pine flatwoods, mangrove forests, saltwater ponds, salt marshes, and seagrass meadows. Once complete, this inviting educational space will serve as a living classroom designed to immerse students and visitors in the natural beauty and ecological diversity of the preserve. The project will support programs with the Environmental Learning Center, FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, and other partners to promote environmental science, conservation, and local ecology.

The project has been a fully integrated effort across Cherrylake. The Sustainability and Greenhouse teams played a key role in sourcing and propagating 74 native plant and tree species, totaling nearly 78,000 units, 30% of which were grown at Cherrylake. Many of these species were produced for the first time, requiring detailed scheduling and crop timing to align with installation needs. The remaining material was contract-grown to ensure availability and consistency throughout the project.

Support from our sister company, IMG Citrus, was also essential. Their H2A housing in Vero Beach allowed our crews to stay nearby during the work week, reducing travel time and improving operational efficiency. This collaboration strengthened teamwork across companies and expanded our hands-on experience in sustainable landscape construction.

The site features an impressive mix of large specimen trees, ranging from standard oaks to triple-trunk oak trees, as well as 158 Sabal palms. Additional plantings include herbaceous species such as St. Andrew’s Cross, grasses like Broomsedge, and ground covers like Sunshine Mimosa. The team also experimented with EC25s, shrubs with a smaller container size and deep root structure that support strong establishment and long-term growth.

This project stands as a living example of restoration in action—where design and ecology come together to create a space that honors the land’s history, connects the community to nature, and inspires the next generation of environmental stewards.

Client: Indian River Land Trust
Landscape Architect: Sally Coyle
Completion Date: September 2025
Type of Project: Ecological Restoration Initiative
Scope: Irrigation and Landscape Installation