They provide vital nurseries for aquatic life and filter urban pollutants from coastal waters.

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit citizen support organization (CSO); sponsors events, raises funds, and advances the goals of Oleta River State Park.

It was used by U.S. troops (who called it Big Snake Creek) in 1841 during the Second Seminole War, and further explored in 1881 by Naval Captain William Hawkins Fulford, whose ventured inland to what is now the city of North Miami Beach.

The area became more heavily settled in the 1890s and in 1922, developers changed the name from Big Snake Creek to the Oleta River.

The park also boasts some of the best wilderness bike trails in the country and is a frequent host for triathlons and other extreme sports events.