Palmetto Island State Park in Vermilion Parish, south of Abbeville, is a Louisiana state park spanning 1,299 acres of coastal bottomland hardwood forest with a dense palmetto understory, especially dwarf palmetto. Louisiana acquired the property in 1981, but development for public use began only in 2002 and, after delays from budget constraints and other concerns, the park opened on October 28, 2010. Centered on outdoor recreation and access to the Vermilion River, it offers boating, canoeing, kayaking, a nature trail, and habitat for native plants and animals, including Iris nelsonii, along with cabins, campsites, picnic areas, and visitor facilities.