MANATEE COUNTY, FL (July 30, 2024) - The Manatee Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is continuing their funding of important environmental initiatives across the county.
In addition to the recent closing (July 26, 2024) on the purchase of the Emerson Point Land Expansion acquisition project—including the future proposed plans of connecting trails, pavilions, the rehab of a dock and cabin, restrooms, a dock and restoration of the tidal creeks to benefit local fisheries—Manatee Commissioners are excited to acquire another 105-acre parcel in the Myakka City area, focused on the conservation of the county’s environmental heritage to benefit today's and future generations as identified by the Manatee County Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee (ELMAC).
“This is a good news story,” said Manatee County BOCC Chair Mike Rahn. “Great job ELMAC on bringing this forward.”
The Triple Oak Preserve (formerly the Myakka Conservation Stewardship Area) has a purchase price of $3,606,000. Located at 30480 Betts Road, Myakka City, this property has 50 acres of upland forest, 25 acres of forested wetlands, 25 acres of mesic flatwoods, five acres of scrubby flatwood and an acre of ponds and freshwater marshlands. The property lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor between the Myakka River State Park and conservation easements west of the Flatford Swamp.
The area is noted for its abundant wildlife, including deer, gopher tortoises, southern fox squirrels, turkeys, sandhill cranes, wood storks, wading birds, crested caracaras, bald eagles, kestrels, tricolor herons, little blue herons and eastern indigo snakes.
“When Vicky and Oren Oberlander bought this property back in 1996, the only trees on that parcel were three oaks,” said Environmental Lands Division Manager Debra Woithe. “That’s where the preserve gets its name.”
However, the property has benefited from a series of conservation efforts over the past several years, including the planting of 9,000 slash pines and 1,000 cypress trees in 1997; 19,000 long-leaf pines and 1,000 cypress trees in 2001 and more than 4,000 other trees over the past several years.
Two homes on the property are included in the purchase, which may be repurposed as a visitor’s center or housing for park ranger(s). In addition to preliminary plans for paved and unpaved trails through the property, proposed passive public recreation opportunities include hiking, biking, birding and picnicking. ELMAC staff has been working on the purchase of the property for months.
The motion to approve the sale was made by Commissioner Kruse and seconded by Commissioner Turner. It passed unanimously. The sale is expected to close within the next 60 days.