Who: Representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing and Basin Boards, Pasco County elected officials, Bay City Flyers and Pasco County elementary school students
What: The District is celebrating the grand opening of the Conner Preserve. The event includes a ceremony, guided hikes, model airplane demonstrations, children’s activities, water quality monitoring demonstrations and more. The District purchased the 2,980-acre property in 2003 to preserve and restore this important natural habitat.
When: Friday, Jan. 16, activities begin at 10 a.m., the formal ceremony begins at 11:30 a.m.
Additional Information: The public is invited to attend and is encouraged to bring chairs or blankets. Attendees should wear casual outdoor attire.
District On-site Contact: Robyn Felix, media relations manager, 813-781-9817 (cell)
Directions: The preserve’s entrance is located approximately 3.5 miles east of U.S. 41 on State Road 52 in Pasco County.
Conner Preserve Fact Sheet
- The preserve is located in central Pasco County. The preserve’s entrance and parking area is located approximately 3.5 miles east of U.S. 41 on State Road 52.
- The District purchased the 2,980-acre property in 2003 to preserve and restore this important natural habitat. The preserve offers a stunning landscape of steep sandhill ridges, expansive marshes, dense cypress sloughs and lush pine flatwoods. It is a vital part of a wildlife habitat corridor envisioned by Pasco County and the District that will eventually connect the Starkey Wilderness Preserve to the Cypress Creek Preserve, making a continuous corridor of several thousands of acres in this region.
- The preserve was a private ranch used for agricultural purposes. Prior to the acquisition, about 43 percent of the natural uplands were converted to pasture and pine plantation. Parts of the preserve are undergoing extensive restoration efforts to reverse the previous alterations. Because of these restoration activities, several areas of the preserve are only accessible on foot.
- Recreational opportunities include bicycling, bird-watching, equestrian, hiking and picnicking. Equestrians must obtain a free day-use permit and carry proof of a horse’s current negative Coggins test. Camping will be available in the future.
- The preserve also has a model airplane flying field, which is managed by Bay City Flyers.
- Portable restroom facilities are located at the entrance and at the model airplane flying field.
- The preserve is open daily from sunrise to sunset.