Orange County’s GREEN Place Program seeks to acquire an additional 23,000 acres of environmentally-sensitive lands by 2030. And at its Tuesday, September 26th meeting, the county added 28.15 acres to the list. The parcel located in Commissioner Christine Moore’s District 2 sits at the Northeast corner of Plymouth Sorrento Road and Haas Road in Apopka.
The Board of County Commissioners voted yes to the purchase of the property which is adjacent to Sandhill Preserve. Among other features this newly-purchased piece of land provides water resource protection, aquifer recharge, and flood plain storage, and it closes gaps between other publicly-owned lands.
The wildlife corridor as well is enhanced by protecting this 28.15 acres from future development. The land is due North of Sandhill Preserve which is considered to be a rare habitat type by the Florida Natural Area Inventory list.
Previously, the Green PLACE Advisory Board approved a motion to recommend naming a site previously known as Pine Plantation as Greeneyes Wildlife Preserve. The location of the property is at 951 West Kelly Park Road in Apopka.
In September 2021, the Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution providing for the creation of a Green Place Advisory Board. This board oversees the $100 million natural lands program and recommends names for parcels purchased.
“The Green PLACE Program’s team of environmental professionals manages the complexities of land identification, evaluation, acquisition, planning, restoration and management with professionalism and conviction,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. "And their hard work helps ensure a better future for all of us.”
For more information on this or other Green PLACE properties, contact the Orange County Environmental Protection Division at 407.836.1400 or visit: https://www.orangecountyfl.net/Environment/NaturalLands.aspx
