Orange County’s Green PLACE Program Acquires 752 acres of Environmentally Sensitive Land

Orange County's Green PLACE Program Acquires 752 acres of Environmentally Sensitive Land

County also purchased parcels near Windermere and North Orange County

Orange County, FL - Orange County today announced that 752 acres of property near Bithlo have been acquired through Green PLACE, the award-winning program aimed at preserving, enhancing, and restoring environmentally sensitive lands. This marks the largest land purchase for the Green PLACE program since the County Commission allocated $100 million in 2021 to expand the program.

The Bithlo property consists of 336 acres of wetlands and stretches between 10^th Street and Dill Road, south of Lake Pickett Road. The Roberts branch, a tributary of the St Johns River, runs through the land.

"The Green PLACE program's newest 752-acre parcel will protect rare wetland and upland habitats as well as protect Orange County wildlife and plant species," said Beth Jackson, Environmental Programs Administrator for Water and Land Resources Management at the County's Environmental Protection Division.

In addition to the Bithlo property, the County's Green PLACE program recently purchased 18.15 acres of environmentally sensitive lands near Windermere along Reams Road and 17.9 acres of environmentally sensitive land in North Orange County.

Since Green PLACE began in 1990, the County has acquired 24,725.93 acres of land, many of which are now open to the public for activities such as hiking, fishing, and birdwatching. In February, the program won a Regional Diamond Award from the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council for its commitment to land conservation.