North Florida Land Trust Receives Final Contribution Needed for Bogey Creek Preserve

Top Quote The Chartrand Family donated to fund the remaining costs of the project. End Quote
  • Jacksonville, FL (1888PressRelease) September 22, 2017 - North Florida Land Trust has received the final donation required for the purchase and secondary costs for the Bogey Creek Preserve. The land conservation organization said the Chartrand family stepped forward to fund the remaining costs associated with the project, which includes the creation of a public park. NFLT received donations from several sources to reach the $1.2 million required to purchase the 63-acre property and had been working to fund the $105,000 in ancillary costs.

    “We are very thankful the Chartrand family gave us the money we needed to make this project a reality,” said Jim McCarthy, president of NFLT. “We had many donors who stepped forward to help us meet the purchase price and come up with the money to do our due diligence, manage the land and make improvements to create a public park. We are very grateful to everyone who helped, including our staff who has been working on this project for many years.”

    North Florida Land Trust purchased about seven acres of land adjacent to Bogey Creek Preserve from the Spencer family in 2006. The organization has been working since then to raise money to purchase the remaining 63 acres of land from the family. McCarthy said he was most pleased that they will be able to fulfill the wish of Sue Spencer, who passed away earlier this year. Sue wanted her family property preserved forever.

    Within the last month, an anonymous donor gave $210,000 to the project after hearing about a challenge grant of $125,000 pledged by the Delores Barr Weaver Fund at the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida. Another anonymous donor gave $405,000 in the name of Robert P. Milam, Jr., River Branch Foundation pledged $500,000 towards Bogey Creek Preserve and two individuals donated a combined $35,000.

    The Preserve will protect nearly one mile of critical marsh front on Clapboard and Bogey Creeks. It neighbors Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park and the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. The property is a matrix of maritime hammock forest, seep-fed cypress swamps and mixed pine-oak forest.

    Plans for the public park include public walking trails, a picnic area, a kayak launch and signage throughout to explain the ecosystems and unique parts of the property. NFLT also plans to create parking access on Cedar Point Rd.

    About North Florida Land Trust
    North Florida Land Trust is a non-profit organization who serves as a champion of land conservation primarily in Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns counties. NFLT was founded in 1999 and has protected thousands of acres of environmentally significant land including land at Big Talbot Island, the River Branch Preserve, Pumpkin Hill, Moccasin Slough, along the St. Mary’s River and other valued natural areas in Northeast Florida. NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with private landowners and other public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations. For more information, visit www.northfloridalandtrust.org.

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