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After 5 years of pursuing funding to acquire 95 acres of land, we dedicated
and celebrated our opening on April 24th, 1999. Today, with 128 acres, we
have ambitious plans to make over a million dollars worth of improvements to
the property in order to provide public access, restore and protect the
plant and wildlife communities, and provide environmental education.
We are striving to be Central Florida’s and
FOLA’s window
on Lake Apopka, its many restoration efforts, and some broader water issues that
impact all our lives. During the past year the many volunteers supporting the
Preserve have increased their effort to over 7,000 total hours invested in the
project. Volunteers have included three AmeriCorps groups for two to three weeks each,
local Rotary, church, Boy and Girl Scout, Winter Garden Police Explorer, Disney
and Chamber of Commerce groups. Other recent accomplishments include completion
of our 3000 ft boardwalk, perimeter fencing, purchase of an additional 15 acres of land bringing the
total to 110 acres, development of educational materials for our Shelter on the
West Orange Trail, and preparation of four acres of uplands for complete
restoration with native plants.
ONP’s motto is EDUCATING, CONSERVING, RESTORING. In order to
achieve our goals of public access and environmental education, the 20 member
Board of Directors of ONP is currently planning for over 3,000 linear feet of
boardwalk to the shores of Lake Apopka, an Environmental Study Center, and is in
serious conversations with Orange County and other schools. During early 2003,
we expect to kickoff a $1 million fund raising effort to build these facilities.
Stay tuned, you will hear from us!
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What can I do to help?
Please support the OAKLAND NATURE PRESERVE WITH VOLUNTEER
HOURS AND YOUR DONATIONS. For more info, call 407-905-0054, or print this
membership application.
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