Healthy Greenways
The community of Abacoa in Jupiter, Florida integrates nature within a walkable collection of neighborhoods including a lively shopping and dining district, a university campus and other research institutions. Its green spaces provide recreation, habitat, and water management.
Abacoa provides an ideal setting to understand how a mixed-use, master planned community can support healthy living for humans and other species. We welcome your participation.
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Scientists pursue research in Abacoa in a variety of fields—biology, environmental science, and urban planning, to name a few.
Community Quality of LifeCommunity quality of life surveys track neighborhood perceptions of livability issues such as transportation, housing, green spaces, health, and community connection. Our surveys span neighborhoods in Jupiter and West Beach. The 2026 Community Quality of Life Survey reflects contemporary topics such as housing affordability. Data collection over time helps researchers understand what residents value and how perceptions may change. |
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Land Use over TimeThirty years after Abacoa’s inception, our 30-Year Comparative Analysis (1995–2025) compares the original master plan with current land uses with an emphasis on built environment versus green spaces. Abacoa in Jupiter, Florida, is a 2,055-acre, mixed-use, master planned community built on the principles of Traditional Neighborhood Development. Its design, integrating walkability, green spaces, and stormwater management, demonstrates a prime example of New Urbanist concepts. The FAU Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions analyzed historic photos, satellite and aerial imagery using an enhanced Python3 algorithm to compare the plan to the current state of development. Project team: Serena Hoermann, PhD; Wen Zhang, PhD; Lamar Nau; Alan Perez. |
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EcologySince 2001, before the development of Abacoa, the area has been a gopher tortoise study site, examining burrow use and movement, disease, reproduction, seed dispersal, interaction among species, and habitat management. Although roadways segment the greenway, flood-control culverts and wildlife underpasses allow animals to move between segments — documented through microchipped tortoises and trail cameras. The gopher tortoise is a state-listed threatened species in Florida and is widely recognized as a keystone species because its burrows provide shelter for hundreds of other species. Research involving the handling, relocation, or disturbance of gopher tortoises or their burrows requires appropriate authorization from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. |
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The Abacoa GreenwayThe Abacoa Greenway is a network of conservation areas and multiuse open spaces woven through the community. It supports wildlife habitat, recreation, and stormwater management while placing natural areas close to neighborhoods, schools, roads, and research institutions. |
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Get InvolvedParticipate in a walking tour, a BioBlitz, citizen science, course-based research, or independent research. Contact the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions at cues@fau.edu. Opportunities
Faculty advisors: |
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