The Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program (ESLPP) is a land acquisition program in
Sarasota County, Florida
Sarasota County is a county located in Southwest Florida. At the 2020 US census, the population was 434,006. Its county seat is Sarasota and its largest city is North Port. Sarasota County is part of the North Port–Sarasota–Bradenton, FL ...
dedicated to acquiring and preserving the natural Florida habitat within the county.
History
The program is funded by taxes and was approved by voters in a referendum in March 1999. The initial referendum allowed the county to collect 0.25 mil (25 cents for every $1,000 of taxable value) in ad valorem tax through 2019 which was used for the acquisition, protection, and management of environmentally sensitive lands. A second referendum was approved by voters in November 2005, extending the program to 2029, and included neighborhood parkland acquisitions. This expanded the program to have a Neighborhood Parkland Acquisition Program (NPP). The county also acquires land through other means, such as grants, donations, partnerships, and conservation easements.
The program's first purchase was of land at the intersection of State Road 776 and Manasota Beach Road in 2000, which developed into
Circus Hammock
Circus Hammock is a preserve with unpaved walking trails in Sarasota, Florida. The name is a reference to the historic winter quarters of the Ringling Brothers Circus. Habitat at the preserve includes hydric hammock.
The property was purchased ...
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Curry Creek Preserve
Curry Creek Preserve is an 80-acre preserve with trails and a paddle boat launch in Venice, Florida. It is located at 1075 Albee Farm Road. Named after a family of early pioneer settlers to the area, the preserve was purchased in 2002 through the ...
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Deer Prairie Creek Preserve
Deer Prairie Creek Preserve is a natural area with of trail in unincorporated Sarasota County, Florida, USA, around along the Myakka River.
History
The land was acquired between 2000 and 2004 through a partnership between Sarasota County’ ...
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Lemon Bay Preserve
The lemon (''Citrus limon'') is a species of small evergreen trees in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to Asia, primarily Northeast India (Assam), Northern Myanmar or China.
The tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culina ...
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Manasota Scrub Preserve
The Manasota Scrub Preserve is an area of protected land in Sarasota County, Florida. It is located at 2695 Bridge Street in Englewood, Florida, in a suburban area that is part of the Lemon Bay watershed.Old Miakka Preserve
* Pocono Trail Preserve
* Red Bug Slough Preserve
* Sleeping Turtles Preserve
* Warm Mineral Springs
Florida Forever
Florida Forever is a land conservation program in Florida. In 1999, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Forever Act which was signed into law by Florida governor Jeb Bush, which would lead to the creation of the Florida Forever program. Sin ...