North Florida Land Trust has assisted the City of Fernandina Beach in purchasing land for conservation

Media Release
January 15, 2021

Jacksonville, Fla., Jan. 15, 2020 – North Florida Land Trust has facilitated the purchase of preservation land near Egans Creek Greenway for the City of Fernandina Beach. NFLT negotiated the deal to buy 5.25 acres on a tributary to the greenway from Pheasant Run, LLC. The city paid $675,000 for the land and NFLT contributed staff time to facilitate the acquisition.

“Preserving this property keeps it from development that could have seen 11 to 16 septic tanks placed on the land,” said Jim McCarthy, president of NFLT. “This property is a beautiful mesic hammock forest with a canopy of trees that reminds me of Old Florida. We look forward to continuing to work with the City of Fernandina Beach to save more of these natural spaces.”

The more than five acres is located to the west of the Egans Creek Greenway and is now owned by the City of Fernandina Beach. NFLT and the City of Fernandina Beach became partners in conservation in 2019 and have been able to save more than 18 acres of natural lands that could have been lost to development.

NFLT continues to work with the city and the surrounding community to identify land for preservation. The nonprofit established the Amelia Forever Campaign to raise funds to help with conservation costs. For more information, visit www.nflt.org/ameliaforever.

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. For more information, visit nflt.org.