Conservation Florida’s D Ranch Nature Center Receives $2.5 Million match in Volusia County ECHO Funding
ORLANDO, Fla. (October 6, 2026) — Conservation Florida’s future D Ranch Nature Center is one step closer to becoming a new destination for conservation, education and community in Central Florida following today’s approval of a $2.5 million match in funding through Volusia County’s ECHO program.
The Volusia County Council’s investment supplements private philanthropic funding pledged by Conservation Florida and will help advance plans for the nature center at D Ranch Preserve, a 476-acre public preserve in Deltona.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Volusia County Council for its partnership and investment in the future of D Ranch and believing in what the D Ranch Nature Center means for our community,” said Conservation Florida CEO Traci Deen. “This funding match brings us one step closer to creating a place where people can experience wild Florida, learn, connect, and build a deeper relationship with the natural places that make Volusia County so wonderful.”
Permanently protected by Conservation Florida in 2019, D Ranch Preserve was once a working cattle ranch and is now open to the public for hiking, birdwatching, photography and volunteer opportunities. The preserve, managed by the nonprofit, features 7 miles of public trails and provides visitors with an opportunity to experience Central Florida’s natural landscapes firsthand.
D Ranch Preserve is already attracting residents and visitors through a growing slate of conservation and outdoor experiences. Conservation Florida has partnered with local community groups, including Boy Scout troops, for hands-on projects including bat box construction, trail maintenance and road cleanups, while hundreds of people have gathered at the preserve for community events such like dark-sky star parties. These experiences are helping build a connection to the land long before the nature center opens its doors.
The D Ranch Nature Center will build on that momentum, creating a dedicated space for environmental education, school field trips, community, and a gateway to the wild places that make Volusia County special. The center will feature outdoor and indoor classrooms, educational exhibits, and an ADA-accessible wildlife overlook.
Because this nonprofit’s mission is conservation, it will not be expanding any developmental footprint on site. Instead, it will be transitioning a current barn into a place of wonder, fellowship, and learning.
The Volusia County ECHO Program is a voter-supported initiative that provides funding for projects that preserve the environment, enrich culture, honor history and expand outdoor recreation throughout Volusia County. This project embodies the heart of the ECHO program, celebrating Volusia’s natural and agricultural heritage, and providing space for nature-based recreation and education.
Conservation Florida also extends its appreciation to all local residents and community partners, including the West Volusia Chamber of Commerce and the City of Deltona, for their support of the D Ranch Nature Center and its future in the community.
Architectural renderings by Borrelli + Partners
To learn more about the D Ranch Nature Center, visit conservationfla.org/naturecenter
For more information, contact:
Sarah Shepard, Communications Director
About Conservation Florida
Conservation Florida is an accredited, nonprofit land conservancy dedicated to conserving the Sunshine State’s water, wildlife, wild places — the places that make Florida home. Since its founding in 1999, Conservation Florida has saved roughly 50,000 acres, serving all 67 counties in Florida, by prioritizing strategic and evidence-based land protection, education, and advocacy.