Conservation Foundation Protects 58 Acres

September 25, 2024 | Bradenton

Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is delighted to announce the permanent conservation of 58 acres in suburban Manatee County. The newly-conserved, strategically-located land links three conservation areas buffering Gap Creek – Manatee County’s 83-acre Braden River Park, Girl Scout’s 123-acre Camp Honi Hanta, and a 14-acre working farm Conservation Foundation protected together with the Garst family in 2021. This protection marks the second time Conservation Foundation worked with the Garst family to conserve their family lands.

“We thank Bunny Garst for selling us the conservation easement at a deep discount and for her continued commitment to protecting Southwest Florida’s land and water,” comments Christine P. Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. “We also thank the Bishop-Parker Foundation, the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation, the Partnership for Gulf Coast Land Conservation, and the Bill and Mary Muirhead Fund of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for their leadership gifts to protect these 58 acres.”

Expanding the network of conserved lands along Gap Creek safeguards water quality in the Braden River, which flows into the Manatee River and eventually, Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Conserving these 58-acres also helps protect local residents from flooding by ensuring the land remains in a natural state so that it can clean and hold stormwater. Additionally, the varied landscape supports numerous native plants and animals, providing room to roam plus food and shelter in the midst of an ever-growing Manatee County.

The land remains privately owned and the newly-acquired conservation easement protects the existing natural areas on site and contains designated building envelopes permitting future construction for residential and agricultural needs and uses. In 2021, Garst generously donated a 14-acre conservation easement on an adjacent parcel in honor of her late husband, Judge Claflin Garst, Jr. By request, following the protection, the 14-acre property was sold to the adjoining landowners, James and Mary Parks, for continued grazing and other limited agricultural use subject to the conservation easement.

Conservation Foundation is committed to helping landowners navigate conservation programs and find opportunities to achieve their conservation goals. Landowners interested in learning how land conservation might work for them are encouraged to contact Conservation Foundation by calling their office at 941.918.2100 or completing their online inquiry form at conservationfoundation.com/savemyland.