FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Anik Smith, Lee County Parks & Recreation
               (239) 461-7455

               Lynda Riley, County Lands
               (239) 479-8505

COUNTY RECEIVES $2.7 MILLION FOR CONSERVATION 20/20 BUY

$10 million received from state over last several years/Public meeting next week to discuss public uses of preserve

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 21, 2004) - Lee County received a check today for $2,727,024 from the Florida Communities Trust to reimburse 50% of the costs to purchase the 320-acre Prairie Pines Preserve Addition, a Conservation 20/20 acquisition.

The check will be deposited into a management account that will be used to improve the Preserve as a haven for wildlife and to provide exceptional resource-based experiences for visitors to the Preserve. The Preserve will have convenient access and parking off of US 41.

The Prairie Pines Preserve was purchased as two parcels, on April 27, 2001 and April 1, 2003, through Lee County's Conservation 20/20 Program. The Conservation 20/20 Program was established in 1996 after Lee County voters approved a referendum that increased property taxes by up to .5 mil for the purpose of purchasing and protecting environmentally sensitive lands. The grant reimburses Lee County for 50% of the purchase of the second acquisition, known as Prairie Pines Preserve Addition.

The Prairie Pines Preserve provides protection for over 2,700 acres of hydric and mesic pine flatwoods interspersed with depression marshes that provide habitat and food for both fish and a wide variety of birds. Visitors to the Preserve will experience scenic views of marshes and open pinelands.

A portion of the grant award will provide for appropriate resource based public uses. The public is invited to a second public meeting to discuss their ideas for possible public uses and the proposed resource protection plan. The meeting on the proposed Prairie Pines Preserve Land Stewardship Plan will be held on July 26th at 7:00 p.m. at the Extension Services meeting room at Terry Park. Proposed recreational uses that are considered ideal for this Preserve are hiking, bird watching, nature photography, nature study, and horseback riding. Other public uses that are under consideration are bicycle riding, llama trekking, and on-lease dog walking.

This grant is the 5th FCT award that the County has received and the 3rd Conservation 20/20 program grant. Two other FCT grants have been awarded to the Conservation 20/20 Program: the 1115-acre Caloosahatchee Creeks Preserve and the 705-acre San Carlos Bay/Bunche Beach Preserve, totaling $6,362,342. Previously, Lee County received FCT grant awards for the Hickey's Creek Mitigation Park and the Pine Island Eagle Preserve.

To date, the Conservation 20/20 Program has acquired 11,220 acres at a cost of $68,174,614.