FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FY2018-2019 PAGE | I SEPTEMBER 2019
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FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019 FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FY2018-2019 PAGE | i SEPTEMBER 2019 Florida Communities Trust 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard, MS 115 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000 (850) 245-2501 www.FloridaDEP.gov TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE CHAIR ...................................................................................................... 1 PROJECT LOCATION MAP ...................................................................................................... 2 FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST ............................................................................................. 3 MISSION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ....................................................................................... 4 FISCAL YEAR 2018-2019 STAN MAYFIELD WORKING WATERFRONTS GRANT APPLICATION CYCLE .............................................................................................................. 9 SITE VISITS ............................................................................................................................ 10 CLOSINGS AND REIMBURSEMENTS ................................................................................... 12 ACQUIRED PROJECTS BY COUNTY 1991-2019 ................................................................... 21 SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES .................................................................................. 28 FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST BOARD MEMBERS ........................................................... 29 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................ 31 Front Cover Photo: Lafayette Heritage Trail Park, City of Tallahassee Back Cover Photo: Lafayette Heritage Trail Park, City of Tallahassee FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FY2018-2019 PAGE | i Ron DeSantis FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF Governor Jeanette Nuñez Environmental Protection Lt. Governor Marjory Stoneman Douglas Building Noah Valenstein 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard Secretary Tallahassee, FL 32399 September 30, 2019 Florida Communities Trust Letter from the Chair Dear Floridians, For more than a quarter century, the Florida Communities Trust (FCT) has established a rich legacy of partnership and preservation marked by a diverse array of parks, greenways, urban green spaces, public beach access points, wildlife habitats and working waterfronts. As perpetual stewards of over 500 project sites throughout Florida, FCT works to continually enhance local communities and recreational access for Floridians. Over the past two years, FCT worked with local partners to acquire nine additional project sites throughout Florida. These projects leveraged $6 million in FCT grant awards with $8.2 million in local match to protect over 1,540 acres across the state. These projects will safeguard Florida’s fragile ecosystems while promoting access to outdoor recreational opportunities for persons with unique abilities. As a result of $10 million awarded in Florida Forever funding for Fiscal Year 2018-2019, six more projects sites will be acquired for the preservation of Florida’s unique and irreplaceable natural resources. Florida Communities Trust complements many grant programs administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, including the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program, Land and Water Conservation Fund Program and Recreational Trails Program. These grant programs help local communities leverage their resources and build interconnected community parks, trails and preserves to better serve our citizens. Please take a few moments to review this report and learn how FCT continues to strengthen our communities. Sincerely, Barbara Goodman Chair, Florida Communities Trust Governing Board Deputy Secretary, Land & Recreation FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FY 2018-2019 PAGE | 1 FCT PARKS AND OPEN SPACE PROGRAM 1990-2019 PROJECTS FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST 617 FCT Grant Projects 515 FCT Project Sites 96,323.84 Acres Acquired FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FY 2018-2019 PAGE | 2 FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST WHAT IS FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST? Florida Communities Trust (FCT) is a multi-faceted program housed within the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. FCT was first funded in 1991 under Preservation 2000 as a funding source for local communities to buy land for the protection of natural and cultural resources and public access for recreational opportunities. Today, FCT administers the Parks and Open Space and Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts (SMWW) programs, two competitive grant programs that provide funding to local governments and non-profit environmental organizations to assist local land conservation efforts. The Parks and Open Space program helps local communities meet the challenges of growth, supporting viable community development and protecting natural resources and open space. The SMWW program acknowledges the importance of the traditional seafood harvesting and aquaculture industries in Florida. Lafayette Heritage Trail Park Projects funded by FCT have fostered cultural and City of Tallahassee historical preservation, trail system development and public access to water. FCT also furthers the outdoor recreation, natural resource protection and working waterfront needs identified in local government comprehensive plans. FCT is governed by a five-member board that includes the Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection or designee and four members of the public appointed by the Governor. Appointees to the Board include a former elected official of a metropolitan municipality, a former elected official of a county, a representative of an environmental non-profit organization and a representative of the development industry. FY 2018-2019 SMWW Applicant Brevard County FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FY 2018-2019 PAGE | 3 MISSION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FCT is dedicated to working with communities across the state to acquire lands for recreation, open space and working waterfronts. FCT works with grant recipients to foster responsible stewardship of those lands once acquired. The quality of life, environmental quality, as well as the viability and vitality of the urban areas of this state are directly linked to urban open space and greenways. The preservation of unique natural spaces in the urban areas of this state are necessary to link local populations with Florida’s natural heritage. PROMOTING COMMUNITY FCT helps local communities further the goals of their land use plans through land acquisition and innovative, non-regulatory solutions to the challenges inherent in the land-planning process. After a project has been acquired by the grant recipient, FCT stewardship continues in perpetuity through a formal agreement to provide guidance on park development and management oversight. This is accomplished through annual stewardship reporting and site visits. Funding for FCT is currently provided through the Florida Forever program. Once lands have been acquired, the Cypress Creek Nature Preserve grant recipient, not the State of Palm Beach County Florida, holds title to the lands. Each recipient is then responsible for land stewardship and implementing a formal management plan that must be approved by FCT. All FCT properties include a Board of Trustees 'reverter' or 'spring' clause to protect the State's interests in perpetuity. Good Neighbor Trail St. Marks Headwaters Trailhead City of Brooksville Leon County FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FY 2018-2019 PAGE | 4 LINKING URBAN POPULATIONS WITH NATURAL AREAS FCT is dedicated to working with communities across the state to acquire lands for recreation, open spaces, working waterfronts and fostering responsible stewardship of those lands once acquired. The quality of life, environmental quality, as well as the viability and vitality of the urban areas of this state are directly linked to urban open space and greenways. The creation of greenways and restoration of urban lakes, rivers, and watersheds in the urban areas of this state are necessary to link populated areas with natural areas. The Naples Preserve, City of Naples FCT #01-040-FF1 The Naples Preserve is a 9.58-acre parcel of land that was approved for purchase by a referendum vote of the citizens of Naples and acquired by the City on April 11, 2000. The Preserve is one of the remaining parcels of land located within the built-up area of Naples that still retains most of its original plant and vegetative cover. The Naples Preserve site contains an older structure that is believed to have been designed by The Visitor Center at the Naples Preserve students of Frank Lloyd Wright. The building was originally utilized by the Chamber of Commerce as its administrative office and visitor information center during the 1960s and 1970s. This building has particular significance because it is among the few remaining commercial structures that survived Hurricane Donna in 1960. The use of the visitor center as the Chamber of Commerce administrative office was discontinued in the mid-seventies. The City restored this structure for use as a visitor and education center in conjunction with the operation of the Nature Preserve. These improvements allow the site to serve as an outdoor laboratory to enhance environmental education. The Naples Preserve City of Naples FLORIDA COMMUNITIES TRUST ANNUAL REPORT FY 2018-2019 PAGE | 5 EXPANSION OF GREEN SPACES AND ENHANCEMENT OF RECREATION AREAS Projects funded by FCT