After two decades of negotiations, Florida votes to buy land to protect Wakulla Springs
Florida will spend $4.2 million to buy 717 acres in the Wakulla Springs Protection Zone that will preserve a wildlife and recreation corridor that connects the Apalachicola National Forest to Wakulla Springs State Park.
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved a deal worked out between John Ferrell and Conservation Florida to purchase the land Ferrell’s family started to farm in the 1870s. The parcel has been targeted by the state’s land-buying conservation program since 1999.
Ferrell, now in his 60s, grew up on the farm but has since moved to Atlanta. He dropped his asking price for the land by about $1.3 million in exchange for it to become part of the effort to protect Wakulla Springs.
“Conservation Florida brought a renewed sense of optimism and understanding to negotiations that finally resulted in a deal,” said Ferrell. “I couldn’t be happier for the legacy of my family than to have the amazing water resources of this property in public ownership.”
Read more: https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2019/07/27/after-two-decades-negotiations-florida-votes-buy-land-protect-wakulla-springs/1820905001/
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