State Adds 160 Acres to River Rise Preserve State Park with Critical Inholding Purchase from Alachua Conservation Trust
August 1, 2022
River Rise Preserve State Park. Photo by Alison Blakeslee.
Gainesville, Florida – On July 27, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection completed the purchase of 160 acres of land nestled within River Rise Preserve State Park. This stretch of land will now become part of the surrounding state park for public recreation.
The property was purchased by Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) in September of last year and maintained by ACT until the State could take over ownership. When this critical inholding of the state park was put on the market in late 2020, ACT worked quickly to place the property under contract before it could be sold for development. Once the property was acquired by ACT, the trust worked with Department staff to ensure that the property would eventually be incorporated into River Rise Preserve State Park, which will expand to over 4,660 acres as a result of this key acquisition.
The Florida Cabinet approved the purchase of the River Rise inholding property from ACT in March of this year. Funds from the Florida Forever Program were used to complete the acquisition, which was a top priority for the State Park System.
“We are grateful to DEP and the State for working in partnership with ACT, as well as to the Porter, Martin, and Fowler families for providing owner-financed bridge loans and the many donors who contributed to this project through the Rise Up for the Santa Fe River Campaign, to ensure that this critical inholding was protected as conservation land. Ownership and restoration by the State will expand wildlife habitat and safeguard additional land along the Santa Fe River, which will have a positive impact on the water quality and quantity along this major Florida waterway.”
160-acre River Rise inholding. Photo by Alison Blakeslee.
Located along the Santa Fe River, River Rise Preserve State Park allows recreational activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, primitive equestrian camping, and wildlife observation. After travelling underground for three miles from O’Leno State Park, the Santa Fe River emerges here, travelling aboveground for more than 30 miles before meeting with the Suwannee River. The park is also part of the Great Florida Birding and Wildlife Trail. Now officially a part of the state park, the land will undergo forest restoration efforts that will benefit wildlife, the river, the regional water source, and the experience of park visitors.
To learn more, please contact ACT at info@AlachuaConservationTrust.org or
(352) 373-1078.
Header photo by Alison Blakeslee.
