CTF Project: Silver Springs Sandhill, adds 465 acres to Central Florida’s Conservation Hub
This year, we were thrilled to announce the protection of the 465-acre Silver Springs Sandhill property. In January, the Conservation Trust for Florida finalized negotiations and signed a purchase option with the property’s multiple owners. In September, the purchase was finalized with funding from Florida Forever, the state’s primary conservation land acquisition program. John Rudnianyn, one of the sellers, said, “This was the last large undeveloped property located in Silver Springs and was entitled for over 1,800 homes.” Instead of developing the property, which would have negatively impacted Silver Springs and the Silver River, the land is now in the hands of Marion County Parks and Recreation and will be opened to the public. As you can see in the map below, the property connects to Indian Lake State Forest and Marion County’s Coehadjoe Park.
“This was the last large undeveloped property located in Silver Springs and was entitled for over 1,800 homes.”
