Local State Park Expands with ACT’s Efforts
This acquisition under the Florida Forever Program forms part of the proposed Northwest Marion Greenway
June 7, 2023
Gainesville, Florida – Alachua Conservation Trust (“ACT”) has facilitated the permanent protection of several parcels within a planned wildlife corridor linking Price’s Scrub State Park in Marion County with Barr Hammock Preserve in Alachua County. A total of 124 acres were protected through the State’s Florida Forever program, which provides acquisition funding for land identified as critical for conservation. This acquisition follows another key land purchase last year by the Alachua County Forever program, which placed 76 acres within this corridor into conservation with funds from the voter-renewed Wild Spaces & Public Places half-cent sales tax.
Price’s Scrub State Park encompasses nearly 1,000 acres with one of the highest biodiversity ratings in Marion County. The 9.5-mile trail system is frequently used for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. The new acreage was purchased in 1969 by physicist Alex Green and astronomer Tom Carr, colleagues at the University of Florida. Tom Carr’s brother, environmentalist Archie Carr, had notified them that the land was for sale. The land features high pine ridges, seepage slopes and a basin marsh that extends into the western part of the existing state park. Bobcat, red fox, coyote, deer, gopher tortoise, wild turkey, bald eagle, sandhill crane, and many other species have been observed on the properties.
“This property has been in our family for over 50 years, when our father, Alex Green, purchased it after a development project fell through. My father’s research focused on many environmental issues, collaborating with departments throughout the university, including mechanical engineering, the medical school and forestry departments. Later in life, he focused on alternative fuels. He always highly valued natural Florida and our family connection to this land. We are honored to see the land now protected as part of the state park, where it can be utilized for public recreation and provide habitat for wildlife and we are grateful to ACT for their efforts in facilitating the sale.”
ACT, an accredited land trust, served as the landowners’ representative and successfully facilitated the acquisition of the properties by the State. Negotiations to have this land purchased and incorporated into Price’s Scrub State Park began two years ago when ACT applied to amend the Florida Forever project area to include 110 acres from the Green family and 14 acres from the Carr family, making the land eligible for acquisition under the Florida Forever program. ACT also provided support to the landowners as they negotiated and ultimately closed on the land purchase.
“Our goal is to relentlessly conserve the best of what’s left of wild Florida, whether through our own acquisitions or by guiding landowners who want to see their family lands protected. We are grateful to the State for recognizing the important conservation value of these lands and to the Green and Carr families for their stewardship of the land over time and their steadfast dedication to seeing it protected.”
Click on image above for larger map.
Protection of these lands furthers efforts begun last year by Alachua County to build a corridor allowing wildlife to move freely between Price’s Scrub State Park and Barr Hammock Preserve. While additional acquisitions will be required on both the Marion and Alachua County sides to complete the entire corridor, this project is an important step toward this goal of linking conservation efforts between the two counties. These lands will continue to contribute to the ecological diversity of North Central Florida and statewide efforts to build a network of ecological greenways linking important conservation areas across Florida.
“The Florida Forever program is one of the best tools for acquiring critical habitat and connecting conservation lands in our state. Once protected, we are able to provide recreational benefits for visitors to Florida’s state parks and conservation areas while also maintaining those lands as natural habitat for a diversity of species. We continue to be inspired by the passion of private landowners to see their lands protected for the benefit of all.”
For additional information, please contact ACT at info@AlachuaConservationTrust.org or (352) 373-1078.
