Last week, Clay County celebrated the dedication of Moccasin Slough, a new public park on Fleming Island. The park, purchased in part with Florida Forever funding, has multi-use trails, a playground and picnic area. See what the Florida Times-Union had to say about the new park:
As they dedicated a new park purchased with the help of Florida Forever funding, Clay County officials and preservationists sought public support for the embattled land preservation initiative.
They asked residents to lobby legislators to fund the program, for which Gov. Charlie Crist is seeking $50 million this year. Florida Forever was given no funding last year because of state budget constraints.
County Commission Chairman Travis Cummings noted that the county’s $4.3 million purchase of the new park, Moccasin Slough on Fleming Island, “would never have happened” without a $3.2 million grant from the Florida Communities Trust, one of the recipients of Florida Forever funding.
Without that funding, the 255-acre tract between U.S. 17 and the St. Johns River might have been developed into residential or commercial property rather than a passive park with trails, a playground and picnic area.
“This is a beautiful piece of property,” Cummings said. “Obviously, we’re happy it is going to be conserved.”
He said Mocassin Slough is the kind of land preservation example to use with legislators as they ponder a tight budget in the 2010 session, which began Tuesday.
“It’s a challenge,” he said. “But there’s not a better time to buy land.”