Land purchase protects Lake Alto and the Santa Fe River
Press release from Alachua County
ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – Alachua County Forever, the county’s environmental land acquisition program, has closed on the purchase of 289 acres from the Khanh Dinh Trust, in partnership with Alachua Conservation Trust. The closing was held on Tuesday, October 31, 2023, and was the culmination of two decades of commitment to protecting this significant property on the shore of Lake Alto. Funding for this $420,000 conservation land purchase was provided by the voter-approved Wild Spaces and Public Places sales tax and private donors.
Protection of this special property is one of many legacies of a remarkable man, Mr. Khanh Dinh, who dedicated his life to making the world a better place. As shared by his family, “Dad dearly appreciated the beauty of nature, and was far ahead of his time in his efforts to conserve the earth and its resources. His first company, founded in the early 1980’s, focused on harnessing the thermal and electrical powers of solar energy. During his career, he developed other technologies to enhance energy efficiency in residential and commercial climate control systems. He would be thrilled that these beautiful lands will be preserved in their natural state for the benefit of all.”
Through this partnership, Alachua Conservation Trust acquired three parcels, totaling 12 acres, and Alachua County acquired two parcels totaling 277 acres, between the City of Waldo and Lake Alto. This property protects one half of a mile of the lakeshore of Lake Alto and is part of the watershed of the Santa Fe River. The Dinh property also falls within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, a statewide landscape corridor identified as critical to the protection of remaining wildlife habitats in Florida. Management of the property will focus on maintaining the high-quality lakeshore wetlands and improving the pine flatwoods habitat with prescribed fire and longleaf pine restoration, to benefit native wildlife species. Opportunities for public recreation will be assessed as part of the County’s Lake Alto Preserve and with input from citizens and the local community.
The Dinh property is the fifth Alachua County Forever conservation land acquisition of 2023, following the re-authorization of the Wild Spaces and Public Places initiative by county voters in November 2022. Through ongoing citizen support and partnerships, the program has worked with willing landowners to protect 33,663 acres since its inception in 2000.
Maybe I can look it up, but, how much was spent per acre.
As per the article above. $420,000 was spent for 289 acres. I’m sure you can do the math for there. You need to read the article before asking to be spoon fed.
$$$$… that’s money coming off the tax rolls – not going in our pockets.
I wonder if voters realize we’re way about the state average for green space.
Who am I kidding? They know, it’s just they have theirs and will do what it takes to keep others from encroaching on it.
The uneducated voters of Alachua County approved the extension and increase of this extra sales tax. Gainesville misuses its share to maintain city parks, instead of that being a basic infrastructure expense.
Actually, the voters are highly educated. This was the fourth time since 2020 they have voted for land conservation taxes. They clearly understand how critical conserving green space is for clean air and water as well as plant and animal life. We are lucky to live in a place that understands the importance of environmental stewardship.
So that’s why they keep electing incompetent mayors and commissioners.
May want to raise your standards if that’s your argument as being “highly educated.”
Nice deflection. You ignored the argument about the environment and toss out silly insults. Impressive. You must be highly educated.
The vast majority of purchased conservation land already pays little to no property tax as it is usually zoned as ag-land. In fact, having conservation land nearby increases the value of surrounding properties. Also, please share the data proving we are above the state average for green space. I’m sure you wouldn’t make that statement without proof.
Much of the land purchased under the Alachua Conservation Trust is wetlands and has very little value for development and thus tax value. I don’t know exactly where this parcel is, but most of Lake Alto’s surrounding property is swamp, especially on it’s north end. The “nicer” lake frontage property suitable for houses is already occupied and on the south end. There is some public land on the east that is low, but not wetlands, but I believe the lake access there, which includes a boat ramp and a small beach, were developed by the park, and the rest of this property does not have the high bluffs suitable for houses which is what the south end has.
PS Lake Alto has historical significance as part of the chain connecting Melrose and it’s 19th century residents, as well as the surrounding citrus industry, with the train in Waldo. At Lake Alto’s NW corner there is a straight shot man made canal connecting it to the higher dry lands of the town of Waldo, and within a carriage ride or walk to the train station. At it’s SE end there is an old man made – or man-improved, not sure of this one – canal connecting it to Little Lake Santa Fe. LLSF is in turn connected to Lake Santa Fe and Melrose Bay. These canals are passable by Kayak or canoe now, and maybe by Jon boat.
At the risk of being delivered a barrage of negative comments for what I am about to say, that’s okay. I stand by my words. I live in Earleton which is as the crow flies a couple miles north of Lake Alto and literally at Lake Santa Fe. I can attest in my personal opinion I am grateful for this land acquisition. There are a fairly good size number of us who have cattle and horses and enjoy the conservation areas for trail riding. I ride my horse at Lake Alto upon occasion and at LEAFS, but they are small areas with short trails. My home trail is Newnan’s Lake Hatchet Creek Tract where I have spent countless years riding my four horses. Lake Alto area is equally close and if it is integrated for multi-use trails to include horses I would be thankful. For the record I consider myself highly educated not only in matters of life but through University as well.