Safe Parks Funds Save Broward Site (FL)

Broward County, FL 6/21/01: Broward County has completed the purchase of the first property under the $400 million Safe Parks and Land Preservation bond referendum passed last November. The five-acre site is located in Hollywood at the corner of Sheridan Street and North 14th Avenue.

The property was purchased yesterday from The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit conservation organization. The Trust bought the property from the previous owners on February 15 to assure its availability for purchase by the county.

Located on a prime corner for commercial development, this site has been the center of public concern since a grocery store chain planned to build there. The property is located next to a parcel purchased with funds from the county’s 1989 Environmentally Sensitive Lands bond referendum. That site connects to West Lake Regional Park, a wildlife refuge and recreational park. With native plants and many bird species using the property, the site purchased yesterday will act as a buffer from development for both the environmentally sensitive land and the regional park.

“We are very pleased the acquisition process under the bond program has begun with such a significant property,” said Brenda Marshall, director of the Trust’s South Florida Office.

About the Trust for Public Land: The Trust for Public Land is a national conservation organization specifically created to conserve land for people. Founded in 1972, TPL works all over the country to protect land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, playgrounds, greenways, recreation areas, historic and archaeological sites, and wilderness. Operating in Florida since 1975, TPL has worked with private landowners, communities and government agencies to protect more than 225 special places throughout the state. The Wall Street Journal’s Smart Money magazine recently named TPL the nation’s most efficient large conservation charity, based on the percentage of funds dedicated to programs. For more information, please visit our web site at www.tpl.org.