ROCKWOOD PARK OPENING

Gainesville's network of urban parks just got bigger thanks to a generous gift from Don and Joanne Rockwood. The new Rockwood Park is located in the Forest Ridge/Henderson Heights community and is linked to Alfred Ring Park via a carriage road.

On Tuesday morning, Alachua Conservation Trust held a ribbon-cutting event with the Rockwood family (photo) to celebrate the opening of the park. During the ceremony, Don and Joanne explained why saving this piece of greenspace was so important to them, and their sentiments reminded us all that we live in a wonderful and very caring part of Florida.

Alachua Conservation Trust has built a small loop trail through the property, added a kiosk and signage, removed invasive exotics (still much to do, particularly with Air Potato), planted various native trees and shrubs (Winged Elm, Longleaf Pine, Shumard Oak, Swamp Chestnut Oak, Azaleas, Oakleaf Hydrangea, and Southern Magnolia), and installed bird boxes for Screech-owls, Chickadees, and Titmice.



Getting there:  park near 2220 NW 22nd Street, or walk/ride your bike. If you have time, take the carriage road down to Alfred Ring Park and explore this beautiful hammock in the middle of Gainesville.
RARE PLANTS FOUND AT LITTLE ORANGE CREEK PRESERVE

Little Orange Creek Preserve now totals 2,867 acres after new additions (~500 acres) were made by Alachua Conservation Trust in 2014-15, and recent botanical finds provide more reasons to further protect and restore this unique area outside Hawthorne.

Mike Stallings found several state-listed species including Florida Milkvine (Matelea floridana), also called Florida Spiny Pod, several large populations of Giant Orchid (Pteroglossaspis ecristata), and Yellow Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris) - photos by Mike Stallings in same order below.

21 ACRES BURNED

ACT land managers executed a prescribed fire on Prairie Creek Preserve on May 29th. The burn area totaled 21.2 acres (outlined in red on map below). The burn was conducted within and near a ground cover restoration site that was planted last fall by ACT staff and interns. If all goes well, there should be a nice patch of Blazing Stars and other late-summer flowers soon.

SUPPORT OUR WORK  
Your contribution supports our efforts to protect and restore the natural and historic
areas that make north Florida the place you want to call home.
The mission of Alachua Conservation Trust is to protect the natural, historic, scenic, and recreational resources in and around Alachua County, Florida. ACT protects land through purchase, donation, and conservation easements, and is a public charity defined by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. 

ACT subscribes to the Standards and Practices of the Land Trust Alliance, available at www.LTA.org. ACT does not provide tax advice, and no goods or services were provided in return for this contribution. Donor's name may appear in ACT's annual report, Form 990 to the IRS, copies of which are available at www.GuideStar.org

ACT does not share our contact information, except to land conservation and historic preservation efforts in Alachua County that are affiliated with ACT. Alachua Conservation Trust's Charitable Solicitation Number is CH12693. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Florida Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free (800) 435-7352 within the State, or visiting the website www.800helpfla.com. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the State.