Green PLACE Program Adds Greeneyes Wildlife Preserve to List of Conserved Lands

As the population in the region continues to grow, Orange County is committed to providing a balance between the built environment and the natural environment through conservation efforts. The County's goal is to conserve ecosystems that strengthen climate and biodiversity resilience, as well as safeguard habitats for wildlife.

In that vein, local nature lovers now have a new place to explore. Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and District 2 Commissioner Christine Moore recently hosted a grand opening ceremony for Apopka's Greeneyes Wildlife Preserve, one of a series of land acquisitions made by the County's Programa Green PLACE.

“It’s critically important we use our resources to preserve natural spaces for future generations,” said Commissioner Moore. “These land acquisitions will continue as we keep the momentum going.”

An award-winning initiative that preserves, enhances and restores environmentally sensitive lands, the Green PLACE program, which started three decades ago, has bought 25,758 acres of property, many of which are now open to the public for activities such as hiking, fishing and birdwatching.

"Orange County is leading sustainability efforts to preserve the natural beauty of the region, and we want to double our protected acreage in the next 10 years," asserted Mayor Demings. "Last year alone, we purchased over 1,300 acres of environmentally sensitive lands."

Greeneyes Wildlife Preserve features an interpretative trail -"What's Under Your Feet?" - which focuses on the relationship between animals living on or under the forest floor. The property was named after the native Florida Greeneyes plant, known for blooms with bright yellow petals and green center disks.

"There's a one-mile hiking trail in two different segments, so it's a nice short hike for local residents," said Andrew Bray, Environmental Team Leader, Green PLACE Program. "And the Greeneyes plant actually smells like chocolate, an aroma visitors can most certainly enjoy."

To learn more about the Green PLACE Program and the County’s conservation efforts, go to Terrenos Naturales.