In a year, voters will have the opportunity to extend parkland protection programs.
By Jono Miller
From the October-December 2025 issue of Critical Times. Print versions are available for free at WSLR+Fogartyville and other community gathering spaces in Sarasota and Manatee counties.
The 72-acre Red Bug Slough Preserve was purchased in 2000 and 2001 through the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program with funding assistance provided by Florida Communities Trust. Photo by Kathleen Murray
Do you want to save more of what’s left of Sarasota? Mark your calendars for a year from now because the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot will include an opportunity to vote to extend Sarasota County’s successful environmental and neighborhood parkland program. The details are still being developed, but the referendum is needed because without voter action the current program will sunset in 2029.
These voter-authorized programs, now part of the County’s Land Acquisition and Management Program, have protected more than 110 properties totaling more than 41,000 acres. That means in the past quarter century Sarasota voters have permanently protected more than 10 percent of the county. When these lands are added to other properties previously acquired and the big state holdings (Myakka River and Oscar Scherer state parks, and the Myakka State Forest) the result is that one third of the county has been protected.
That’s not a state record. In fact, 20 Florida counties have a greater percentage of protected land than Sarasota. What sets Sarasota apart is the extent to which local citizens are responsible for this protection. Only two counties have used voter-approved initiatives to secure more land than Sarasota. Hillsborough County is roughly twice the size of Sarasota and Volusia is nearly three times the size. So, Sarasota is the leading county in terms of the percent of the county saved through local initiatives.
2025 is the silver jubilee year for the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Program. The referendum authorizing the program passed in 1999 and the first property, Manasota Scrub in Englewood, was purchased in September of 2000. That was quickly followed by Red Bug Slough in October, and Deer Prairie Creek Preserve in November.
These three acquisitions epitomize the range of the program. Manasota Scrub protected a rare habitat (Scrubby Flatwoods) and is a mid-sized project, now totaling 179 acres. Deer Prairie Creek Preserve is nearly 12 square miles and borders the Myakka River to the west, I-75 to the north, and North Port to the east. Once projected as an area of future urban growth, it now features more than 60 miles of trails and protects nearly six miles of Myakka riverbank.
Red Bug Slough Preserve is located at 5200 South Beneva Road in Sarasota
Modest Red Bug Slough Preserve is at the other end of the size range – just 72 acres embedded in suburban Sarasota on the west side of Beneva Road. Places like Red Bug Slough helped make the case for the Neighborhood Parkland Program, which was authorized by voters in 2005 and has acquired 27 properties including trailheads for the Legacy Trail, additional beachfront, and Senator Bob Johnson’s Landing on the Myakka River.
To prepare for the November ’26 vote, take time in the coming year to experience the wide variety of Sarasota’s voter-authorized preserves and neighborhood parks. That should make you an advocate for what voters can accomplish.
Sarasota County Marks 25 Years of Land Conservation
Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources invite community members to help celebrate 25 years of land acquisition and conservation through its Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program (ESLPP) with several public events, including:
- An EcoWalk on Oct. 5 from 9-11 a.m. at Red Bug Slough Preserve, 5200 Beneva Road, Sarasota
- Sarasota County’s Environmental Lands Celebration on Nov. 15 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Deer Prairie Creek Preserve South, 10201 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice.
The guided EcoWalk offers participants the opportunity to explore unique ecosystems, discover native flora and fauna and learn about the ongoing efforts to preserve natural lands.
The Environmental Lands Celebration will feature guided walks, conservation exhibits, kayak tours, fishing and family-friendly activities that showcase the beauty, history and conservation successes of preserved lands. Special guest speakers, live music and food trucks will also be part of the celebration.
“These events highlight the diversity of habitats safeguarded through ESLPP and showcase the native plants and wildlife that thrive thanks to these preservation efforts,” said Nicole Rissler, Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, in a press release.
For information on park programs and events, visit sarasotacountyparks.com.
Natural historian and activist Jono Miller, who served as director of the New College of Florida Environmental Studies Program, is cohost of “Our Changing Environment,” airing alternating Tuesdays at 9 a.m. on WSLR.
