Preserving natural Florida

American Forests, Wntr, 2003 by Doug Alderson

"It's a beautiful piece of property," says Susan Grandin, director of the Trust for Public Land's Jacksonville office. "And it's in an underserved neighborhood with three schools in close proximity. It can serve as an environmental education magnet."

According to Mark Middlebrook, preservation project administrator for the city, the tract met another important criteria. "We are very keen on purchasing any kind of waterfront access," he says. "The southeast part of the city developed very fast and there is little access for the public, so we wanted to make sure we have waterfront access in other parts of the city for future generations."

Soon after the land's purchase, Middlebrook organized a public hearing in the neighborhood to receive feedback. Ideas included observation platforms and boardwalks, but many neighbors were nervous about the land being developed as a park, even one for passive recreation.

"People were concerned that the criminal element would take over," says Yates. "They were just scared. I really envisioned a mini national park, but our people aren't ready yet. My heart aches. We asked the administration to hold onto the money (for park development) so we can work with the neighborhood to improve security at our other parks. We'll clean up the land and re-vegetate it. Hopefully, the neighbors will he inspired to want to do more." In the meantime, the tract will remain open to visitors, including schoolchildren.

For those seeking a broader wilderness experience but still within the city, a 20-minute drive north from the Ribault tract takes you through largely upscale neighborhoods, past rolling green country clubs and massive shopping centers, to the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve near the mouth of the St. Johns.

Timucuan preserve is a national park, and the Preservation Project has helped to expand its boundaries to more than 46,000 acres--more than doubling the land within the preserve. Visitors to the Timucuan Preserve/Fort Caroline Visitor's Center can view historic displays and walk through an old-growth live oak hammock to learn about early native inhabitants and the first European colonists. A reconstructed French fort is testament to 1560s French settlers and the tug-of-war for control of northeast Florida that lasted more than three centuries.

More than three-quarters of the Timucuan preserve is a wildlife-rich salt marsh estuary that can be best appreciated by boat. The city and the National Park Service will address access needs by offering water taxi service next year. "It's quite extraordinary to see a natural area that large near the city," says Middlebrook.

Another recently purchased large tract follows the 14.5-mile Jacksonville-to-Baldwin Rail Trail in the western part of the county, near the sweeping naval reserve and air station that helped to boost the city's population to nearly 800,000 and still growing. The trail was once part of the CSX railway line and was purchased and developed as part of a joint city/state partnership. Along much of the trail is a maturing canopy of hardwood trees, most notably live oaks with their majestic arching arms festooned with resurrection fern. Wilted and dormant looking in dry weather, the ferns "resurrect" after a rain, true to their namesake.