The nonprofit has until October to raise $150,000 to purchase additional land to add to the preserve
North Florida Land Trust has an opportunity to expand Bogey Creek Preserve, the organization’s first public park, but they need the public’s help. The nonprofit land conservation organization must raise $150,000 by October to purchase 12 acres of land that they will add to the preserve. The land is to the east and south of the preserve and is currently owned by the McGehee family who reached out to NFLT to offer the land for sale. The land contains forest and streams that will expand the preserve’s trail system and will also keep that land free from development.
“We are thankful for the opportunity to enlarge the footprint and impact of our park and offer even more natural land for the public to enjoy,” said Jim McCarthy, president of NFLT. “The additional 12 acres will allow us to create more trails through the forest which is a beautiful example of Old Florida. We also look forward to growing our educational programming that we offer out at Bogey Creek. We hope the community will join us and support our efforts.”
Those wishing to donate to help preserve this property and expand the public park can visit https://www.nflt.org/donate/ and click on the Bogey Creek Expansion Initiative. Donors can also send a check marked Bogey Creek to North Florida Land Trust at 843 W. Monroe St., Jacksonville, FL, 32202. Donors can also contact Megan Mangiaracino at mmangiaracino@NFLT.org or call (904) 479-1967.
Bogey Creek Preserve is a 75-acre scenic preserve located off Cedar Point Road in North Jacksonville and offers walking trails, a picnic area and kayak access from Clapboard Creek. The preserve is open seven days a week from dawn to dusk. The trails wind through a mix of maritime hammock forest and mixed pine-oak forest and along seep-fed cypress swamps. The preserve neighbors Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park and the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and protects nearly one mile of critical marsh front on Clapboard and Bogey Creeks. NFLT acquired the property in 2017 through community donations and opened it to the public in May of 2019.
About North Florida Land Trust
North Florida Land Trust is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to protect the natural resources, historic places and working lands (farms and ranches) throughout north Florida. Founded in 1999, NFLT has preserved tens of thousands of acres of land through donation or purchase of land as well as conservation easements. NFLT is funded largely by private and corporate contributions and works closely with willing landowners and public agencies at all levels of government, not-for-profit partners, and foundations.
