Prairie Pines Preserve Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Monday, August 10, 2009, 11:00 AM 18400 North Tamiami Trail North Fort Myers, Florida
WELCOME Tammy Hall Vice Chairwoman, and Master of Ceremonies PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE REMARKS Ray Judah Chairman, Bob Janes Frank Mann Brian Bigelow Barbara Manzo Interim Director, Lee County Department of Parks and Recreation Alex LePera Chairwoman, Conservation Lands Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee Gayle Schmidt Lee County Bird Patrol Jo Harder Caloosa Saddle Club PLAQUE PRESENTATIONS RIBBON CUTTING GUIDED TOUR ON THE BOARDWALK LUNCH Dale Vest: Quality Cut Lawn Care Compass Construction Conservation 20/20 Program
PRAIRIE PINES PRESERVE The Preserve s General Construction Information - This is the second time the Lee County Board of County Commissioners has constructed recreational facilities on a Conservation 20/20 Program property. The $1.4 million project includes hiking and horseback riding trails, a bird blind, picnic areas, restroom facilities, and auto and horse trailer parking. The preserve has 2,300 feet of accessible trails and boardwalk and 20 miles of seasonal hiking and horseback riding trails. Grant funding from the Florida Communities Trust and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (Land and Water Conservation Fund) helped make this project possible. The Division of County Lands staff followed acquisition procedures in Florida State Statues to negotiate an offer with the property s owners. The Department of Parks and Recreation Conservation 20/20 staff implemented land stewardship after the purchase. They continue to work towards restoring lands to their natural state and condition, manage them in an environmentally acceptable manner and provide public recreational opportunities that are compatible with protecting natural resources. Lee County Conservation Land Acquisition and Stewardship Program ( CLASAC ) The objectives of CLASAC, also known as the Conservation 20/20 Program, are to acquire, restore and protect natural areas critical to 1) wildlife habitat important for unique flora and fauna, 2) water supply, water quality and flood control and 3) resource based recreation. CLASAC meets monthly to review applications from willing sellers to ensure they meet the established criteria and then make recommendations to the Lee County Commissioners for the purchase of the nominated lands. The Management Subcommittee of CLASAC also meets monthly to review progress and help set goals for the Conservation 20/20 land that is acquired. CLASAC History 1994 A land use study found that only 10% of Lee County was set aside for conservation. By comparison, nearly 28% of the State of Florida was owned and managed as conservation lands and other south Florida counties had from 40 85% set aside for conservation. 1995 With growth and development proceeding quickly in Lee County, large tracts of native land were disappearing. Consequently, a group of concerned citizens fearing that time was running out to preserve natural areas began lobbying the Lee County government for a land acquisition program. The group called themselves the Conservation 20/20 committee to signify their future vision of a green Lee County. 1996 A majority of voters in Lee County voted to increase property taxes by up to 0.5 mills to fund the purchase and protection of environmentally critical lands. 1997 The Board of County Commissioners created a citizen advisory committee. Each Commissioner appointed three members with responsibility to oversee the selection and purchase of properties and their management. The committee was named the Conservation Lands Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee (CLASAC). The program became known as the Conservation 20/20 Program, named after the grass roots committee that fought for its creation. 2007 The 10 year anniversary of the program...in that time, with recommendations by CLASAC and approval of the, 71 properties have been purchased totaling 17,984 acres... for future generations recreational enjoyment. July 2009 Lee County s Conservation 20/20 program has now acquired 99 properties totaling 22,492.85 acres as part of 39 preserves.
THANKS Projects such as these would not be possible without the cooperation, teamwork and dedication of a number of individuals and organizations. They include: Florida Communities Trust Ken Reecy, Grant Gelhardt, Sara Leitman Florida Department of Environmental Protection Greg Jubinsky Land and Water Conservation Fund Tamika Bass Ray Judah, Tammy Hall, Bob Janes, Frank Mann, Brian Bigelow Attorney David Owen, Andrea Fraser, Melody Bowers, Scott Coovert Administration Karen Hawes, William H. Hammond, Holly Schwartz, Pete Winton Public Works Jim Lavender, Bev Dearborn, Mike Pavese Contracts Management Cindy Logan, Mark Hrycyk Construction and Design Bob Taylor, Tom Easley, Peter Wisniewski, Alex Rodriguez Parks and Recreation Barbara Manzo, Dave Harner, Roger Clark, Fred Johnson, Cindy Mitar, Cathy Olson, Laura Greeno, Jason Lamey, Jeff Anderson, Sherry Furnari, Lee Waller, Laura Wewerka, Randy Gayle, Regis Good, Jessica Lowery, Mickey Miller, Ed Weaver, Terry Cain, Jim Green, Annisa Karim, Bob Repenning, Kathy Cahill, Amanda Gutierrez, Skip Franklin, Barb Ross (volunteer), Clark Rhodes ( volunteer ) County Lands Karen Forsyth, Robert Clemens, Lynda Thompson, Reneé Armstrong Natural Resources Roland Ottolini, Anura Karuna-Muni, Wanda Wooten, Allen Davies, Steven Farah Community Development Mary Gibbs, Matt Noble, Nettie Richardson, Bob Beluschak
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY GROUPS Conservation Lands Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Committee Kirk Beck, Bill Burdette, Carie Call, John Cassani, Kim Fikoski, Joanne Fowler, Bill Hammond, Cullum Hasty, Mitch Hutchcraft, Christie Knight, Alex LePera, Erick Lindblad, Wiley Parker, Julio Rivera, George Wheaton Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Clarence Bowman, Debbie Sullivan, Allison Gruber, Kirk Woodbury, Keith Dean, Damon Shelor, Bob Wagner, Burnie Donoho, Betty Davis Simpson, D.J. Petruccelli, Sally Tapager, John Goetcheus, Lee Duffus Compass Construction, Inc. Teri Bulleigh, Jim Smith, Carlo Isola, Marian Poole Honc Industries Dan Honc Kevin L. Erwin Consulting Ecologist, Inc. Kevin Erwin, Kris Bowman J.W. Ebner Consulting, Inc. Joe Ebner Cooper Timber Harvesting, Inc. Wayne Cooper and Sons Lee County Bird Patrol Caloosa Saddle Club And a very special thanks to All the Florida Trail Association volunteers who helped with trail construction and blazing Mickey Miller, Marge Embley, Dave Miller and Janet Bunch
Lee County Conservation 20/20 Preserves as of June 2009 Conservation 2020.org