A “For Sale” sign sits outside a large tract of land, but it won't be up for long. Lee County commissioners are closing in on a significant acquisition. The county is in the final stages of purchasing over 40 acres of land to be added to the Conservation 20/20 program.
The county's latest purchase will involve 40.56 acres of land located east of Moody Road in North Fort Myers, with the parcel priced at $7.9 million. Local residents are relieved to see the county's commitment to conservation.
The Conservation 20/20 program, which currently protects more than 30,000 acres across Lee County, aims to preserve natural habitats and enhance public access to natural spaces. With this new addition, the program will further its mission of conserving important environmental areas.
Their first priority will be to restore the newly acquired land to its natural state. The goal is to return the area to the condition it was in prior to Hurricane Ian.
Rick Bauer, supervisor of Lee County Parks and Recreation, highlighted the significance of the purchase.
“It’s always unique to get coastal preserves. It’s rare to obtain properties right along the water within Conservation 20/20. This is a very exciting purchase for us,” Bauer said.
Before the land can be opened to the public, the county must first complete the official closing process. Following this, they will conduct an assessment to determine the necessary steps to make the land a public access preserve.
Stay tuned for further updates as the county progresses with this exciting new addition to its conservation efforts.