Orange Lake Overlook Restoration Effort Receives Support from Duke Energy
By Lianne D’Arcy, ACT’s Outreach Coordinator
In the shade of sabal palms, next to Orange Lake Overlook’s (OLO) old citrus packing shed, Alachua Conservation Trust was presented with a $5,000 check from Live Oak Level Corporate Sponsor, Duke Energy. The grant funds will help install new kiosks, benches, trails, and signage at the former orange grove. And starting later this year, the property is expected to partially open to the public.
Representing Duke Energy was Dorothy Pernu, the organization’s community relations manager. Early Tuesday morning, with OLO’s prehistoric lake stretching out behind her, Ms. Pernu presented ACT with a check from Duke Energy in support of Orange Lake Overlook..
“Duke Energy is proud to work with community organizations to responsibly manage and restore our natural resources in Florida and protect our historical locations like the Orange Lake Overlook,” Pernu said. “We continuously look for sustainable ways to support such efforts as part of our pledge to be good environmental stewards.”
The magic of Orange Lake Overlook is well known in the McIntosh community. Artists and writers have been using the historic landscape as a muse for years, and in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the property was home to the Ollie Huff Citrus Shop and packing house.
But the Overlook’s known history really begins with the Timucua Indians, where the village of Potano was established in the 16th century before the area’s agricultural boom. Rich with history, the 71 acres of Orange Lake Overlook is regarded as a glimpse into “Old Florida.”
Frequented by bald eagles, belted kingfishers and sandhill cranes, the property also serves as a critical wildlife corridor for much of Florida’s endangered species. And because OLO is a source of food, rest and breeding for flocks, the area is humming with activity during migration months.
“We are honored to work with local community partners and businesses such as Duke Energy to protect special places like Orange Lake Overlook,” said ACT executive director Tom Kay. “This grant will allow us to enter the next phase of our efforts to preserve and restore the overlook, while providing recreational opportunities for the public that showcase breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.”
Orange Lake Overlook was officially protected as conservation land in the fall of 2019, and thanks to the generosity of Duke Energy, ACT can now work towards bettering the picturesque landscape for all to enjoy.
Gallery photos by Lianne D’Arcy, Outreach Coordinator.
Banner photo by Kim Davidson. Select prints are available at kimdavidsonphotography.com though additional photos are available upon request. All proceeds from the sale of these prints go to further ACT's conservation projects.
