Critical Inholding at River Rise Preserve State Park Purchased by ACT
October 8, 2021
Gainesville, Florida – At the end of September, Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) purchased 160 acres of land nestled within River Rise Preserve State Park. Originally intended for residential development, this stretch of land will now be incorporated into the existing state park once it is transferred to the State.
As soon as a for sale sign went up on the property, ACT went to work on placing the property under contract to purchase before it could be sold to a developer. ACT is now working on selling and transferring ownership to the State of Florida so that the property can be incorporated into River Rise Preserve State Park. Once the State acquires it from ACT, the State Park will expand to over 4,660 acres. Located along the Santa Fe River, the State Park is also part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail.
“This is another significant conservation victory for the Santa Fe River and its surrounding watershed,” said ACT executive director, Tom Kay. “With this purchase, the land, as well as the abutting State Park lands, will experience improved management and be forever protected and connected. And once it is officially a part of River Rise Preserve State Park, forest restoration efforts will start that will benefit wildlife, the river, and the experience of visitors to the State Park.”
2021 has been the year of the Santa Fe River for ACT. This is the fourth major project on the Santa Fe to close this year. ACT also acquired 195 acres of land down river from the River Rise inholding property, known as Little Awesome Preserve, as well as 133 acres on the upper Santa Fe River in Bradford County. Over the summer, the Lundgren family donated a conservation easement on 278 acres along the Santa Fe River in Alachua and Bradford Counties to ACT.
“These efforts are a testament to ACT’s dedication to keeping the Santa Fe River wild and connected,” said ACT’s Executive Director, Tom Kay. “We must do everything we can to keep the Santa Fe River, its springs, and our drinking water, safe.”
Over 62% of the Santa Fe River is protected, and ACT is working to protect an additional 75,000 acres along the river by 2045.
To learn more, please contact Lianne D’Arcy at Lianne@AlachuaConservationTrust.org or (352) 373-1078, or visit ACT’s River Rise Inholding page at www.alachuaconservationtrust.org/river-rise-inholding
Photos by Alison Blakeslee
