| PRESS RELEASE
Sarasota Conservation Foundation to Host Public Tours The Sarasota Conservation Foundation will host public tours of Bay Preserve at Osprey, 400 Palmetto Ave, Osprey, FL on the third Monday of the Month at 9:00 a.m. Please call 941 918-2100 for more information. |
 Photography By Clyde Butcher |
Sarasota Conservation Foundation receives approval for Bay Preserve at Osprey public park Osprey,
Florida – June 28, 2007 -- Sarasota Conservation
Foundation (SCF) received approval yesterday from the Sarasota County
Commission to proceed with its plans for Bay Preserve at Osprey
public park. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michael
Biehl Park Opens to Applause Innovative public/private partnership delivers on promise of new community park
The park, now officially open to the public, features a water fountain, old-style wooden park benches, and a variety of native Floridian plants and trees. It was made possible by the Sarasota Conservation Foundation, supported by a generous grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice and the construction efforts by the City of Venice. The park’s centerpiece is a granite etching by Helm Vault Services of John Nolen’s original plan for the city of Venice. Set against the backdrop of a panoramic mural of Florida nature by local artist BJ Carson, the park also serves as an access point for the biking and walking trail in Venetian Waterway Park. Albert Joerger, Founder and President of Sarasota Conservation Foundation, publicly thanked those who helped create the park. Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, the largest community foundation in Florida, provided a grant of more than $412,000 that made the acquisition of this land possible. Joerger noted that this grant was a catalyst that helped launch our organization. “This was our first project,” said Joerger. “Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice not only wrote a check for our organization, and supplied countless introductions but also inspired the staff of the Sarasota Conservation Foundation to a level of professionalism which has made our tremendous success possible.” “They
have catalyzed not only a Park but an ‘emerald necklace’
of protected lands on the Gulf Coast’s waterfront,”
added Joerger. “We have leveraged this grant to over $265
million for parks and protected land. The City of Venice, in an
unprecedented public/private partnership, donated approximately
$350,000 to design and landscape this Park. Furthermore, they are
going to maintain the park in perpetuity. Jean Trammel commissioned
the scenic mural and Michael Biehl made a generous gift to Sarasota
Conservation Foundation to support its mission. It’s the shared
vision of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, the City
of Venice and the Sarasota Conservation Foundation and donors like
Michael Biehl, Jean Trammel, and Phil Delaney at Northern Trust
Bank that gives the Sarasota Conservation Foundation staff the confidence
to move forward with their bold mission of protecting the Gulf Coast’s
bays beaches, and barrier islands.” Hammett concluded by explaining how Michael Biehl Park fits with the city’s vision: “This park helps fulfill City Council’s promise of bringing its vision - the vision of a charming, picturesque downtown, with a natural beach for public use, connected for easy movement and access, with natural and designed beauty - the city’s Vision 2020 - to reality.” Joerger described the park project as “a social capital partnership between the City of Venice, Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, Sarasota Conservation Foundation, Venice Little Theater, and the people of Venice. Joerger also thanked Michael Biehl, saying that Biehl “was drawn to our area for at least two of the same reasons we were: the nature and the wildlife. But what inspired him to this cause was his realization that these things must be preserved and protected.” The dedication ceremony was followed by a reception for Michael Biehl and other key players in bringing the park project to life. For more information on Michael Biehl Park or on Sarasota Conservation Foundation, please contact Albert Joerger at (941) 918-2100. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sarasota Conservation Foundation, a local land trust, closed on a 4.3 acre parcel in Osprey which will be known as Bay Preserve at Osprey. The purchase price was $6.6 million for the bay front property. The sellers donated a portion of the property’s value to the Foundation in the form of a reduced sale price, known as a bargain sale. Additionally Cornelia and Richard Matson, the sellers and leading environmental philanthropists, donated $600,000 to the endowment for Bay Preserve at Osprey. “This brings to fruition our hope that the property would not be divided but preserved as a whole. Without the Sarasota Conservation Foundation’s vision and leadership this would never have happened. We are happy to play a role in providing for the Preserve’s future,” said Mrs. Matson. Bay Preserve at Osprey is the second property acquired by the Foundation for parkland. The Foundation received the acquisition funds from Florida Communities Trust. The grant award is the largest ever received by a non-profit in the history of the State program. Simultaneous with the closing, the Foundation established a $660,000 endowment to fund future park maintenance. This preserve is funded entirely through private donations, foundation and State grants.
Historically the property has been used as a home and will be transformed into a park. Improvements to be completed prior to opening include Americans with Disability Act accessibility compliance, nature trails, invasive exotic plant removal, and interpretive signage. The Preserve will be managed with an eye on protecting the historic and environmental resources located on-site for future generations to enjoy.
“This closing will allow us to continue pursuing our mission of preserving the character and natural integrity of Sarasota County. This is a great day for Sarasota County and the state of Florida. We look forward to raising an additional $900,000 and opening the park this winter,” said Albert G. Joerger, President of the Sarasota Conservation Foundation.
This closing comes on the heels a challenge grant award from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice to fund the necessary capital improvements.
The closing marks the launch of the Foundation’s Campaign for the Future fundraising drive. Every dollar donated to the campaign will be matched by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice. The matching grant will fund the necessary capital improvements at Bay Preserve at Osprey needed to open the park to the public. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sarasota Conservation Foundation Receives $995,000 Matching Grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice (Osprey, Fl.) On Wednesday, February 22, 2006 Sarasota Conservation Foundation, received a challenge grant of $995,000 from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice to create a center dedicated to the environment, arts and recreation in Osprey. The money will be used to transform a parcel of historic and environmental importance from residential use to a park for the public to enjoy forever. Sarasota Conservation Foundation, a local land trust, will still need to raise $995,000 to realize the full value of this grant. “This capital grant is the keystone for this project’s success. Now the Sarasota Conservation Foundation will be able to open the preserve as a public resource accessible for visitors of all abilities,” said Albert G. Joerger, President of the Sarasota Conservation Foundation. This capital grant comes on the heels of a $6.6 million grant from the Florida Communities Trust for acquisition of the property. The Sarasota Conservation Foundation’s programs and services are dedicated to preserving Sarasota County’s cultural and natural resources. “This capital grant will allow us continue pursuing our mission of preserving Sarasota County’s bays, beaches and barrier islands,” said Mr. Joerger. “This is a great day for Sarasota County.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sarasota Conservation Foundation and local family partner to protect native area on Manasota Key The Sarasota Conservation Foundation partnered with a local family to protect a natural area on Manasota Key through a conservation easement. The conservation easement retires future development rights on the property. The Sarasota Conservation Foundation will hold the conservation easement and is responsible its enforcement. The beach front parcel has been historically used as a nesting site for the threatened Loggerhead turtle. Additionally there are currently four gopher tortoise burrows located on the parcel. The agreement conserves habitat for these valued species. Generally conservation easements are contracts between a landowner and a qualified organization or government agency. Florida statute authorizes government agencies and organizations to acquire conservation easements. An organization qualifies to hold conservation easements if its purpose includes protecting the natural, scenic, or open values of real property. The easement extracts or limits the development rights of a parcel in perpetuity. Conservation easements also have been recognized by the Internal Revenue System and can qualify as a charitable contribution. “This is a wonderful property and it’s our pleasure to be involved in protecting the natural character of Manasota Key. It is a natural oasis now and will stay that way forever,” said Albert Joerger, President of the Sarasota Conservation Foundation. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sarasota
Conservation Foundation receives $6.6 million grant SCF plans to protect a historically significant slice of unspoiled waterfront Florida Sarasota, FL, September 15, 2005: This afternoon, The Florida Communities Trust awarded the Sarasota Conservation Foundation a grant in the amount of $6.6 million – the single largest grant the Florida Communities Trust has given to a non-profit. The Foundation plans to use the funds toward the cost of acquiring an environmentally, historically and culturally significant property on Little Sarasota Bay. Specifically the Sarasota Conservation Foundation plans to purchase a 4.38-acre parcel in Osprey, near Historic Spanish Point. The property contains an elegant well-preserved Colonial Revival home that was built in 1931, plus a carriage house and three cracker-style cottages. The Sarasota Conservation Foundation hopes to conserve, maintain and enhance the property in an ecologically and historically sensitive way, while opening it up for the use and enjoyment of the public. The facilities will be made available to cultural, historic, and environmental groups. This breathtaking old Florida landscape will provide a valuable point of public access to beautiful Little Sarasota Bay for fishing, kayaking or just sitting on the pier, pondering the behavior of pelicans and egrets. “This grant will be instrumental in protecting our bays, beaches and barrier islands,” says Joerger. “Unspoiled bayfront land – the kind of natural landscape that drew so many of us to this area in the first place – is rapidly giving way to development. We are delighted that the Sarasota Conservation Foundation has been able to bring these funds to Sarasota County to help safeguard public access to our most cherished resources. The Florida Communities Trust has given our organization the opportunity to conserve a piece of that land for future generations to enjoy.” The Foundation seeks to raise $8.6 million for the protection of the property. With this grant the Foundation has $1.4 million left to raise toward that goal. For more information on this grant, the Sarasota Conservation Foundation or to make a contribution call Albert Joerger at 941.918.2100. Press Contacts: Albert
Joerger, President & Exec. Director -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Sarasota Conservation Foundation office is located at 343 Palmetto Ave., Osprey FL. For more information on donating land, becoming a member or volunteering, visit www.sarasotaconservation.org or call (941) 918-2100. To Join Us Click Here |
VENICE,
Florida -- March 30, 2007 -- A large crowd turned out this morning
for the opening of Michael Biehl Park, located at the corner of
U.S. 41 Business and West Tampa Avenue, the gateway of downtown
Venice. Mayor Fred Hammett, among others involved with the park
project, spoke in opening remarks about the wonderful and unprecedented
public/private partnership that went into transforming a vacant
lot into a vibrant community park.