FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 11, 2001
State Buys $3 Million Property For $1.5 Million
-- Governor Bush and Cabinet members approve purchase --
TALLAHASSEE
– Today,
Governor Jeb Bush and Florida Cabinet members approved the first
acquisition in the Alderman’s Ford Addition project. The three
parcels approved today total 951 of the 1,329 acres that make up
the project.
The
Alderman’s Ford Addition project is located in eastern
Hillsborough County, a rapidly growing region in the Tampa Bay
area, and is one of the last remaining natural areas. Hardwood
forests, flatwoods, endangered wildlife and the extremely rare
Florida golden aster as well as water quality in the Alafia River
will all be protected under state ownership.
The Board
of Trustees purchased the Alderman’s Ford Addition project, with
an approved value of just over $3.08 million, at a considerable
discount for only $1.5 million from Hillsborough County.
Hillsborough County purchased the parcels between 1990 and 1995
pursuant to a multi-party agreement entered into with the
Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of State
Lands.
The
primary management goal of the Alderman’s Ford Addition project
is to provide areas for natural resource-based recreation.
Visitors will have the opportunity to horseback ride, hike, bike,
camp and study nature along the recreational trails. Not far away,
bike enthusiasts have the opportunity to experience one of the
best "extreme" mountain bike trails (proclaimed by the
International Mountain Bike Association) in the Alafia River State
Park.
The
property borders the Alafia River and is located next to Alderman
Ford Park. It will be managed by the County as a park and
recreation area under the single-use concept of protecting or
restoring the Alafia River, hardwood and pine forests, and
sensitive species, while allowing recreation that will not degrade
the natural resources.
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