Sarasota County voters have approved extending the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Protection Program and the Neighborhood Parkland Program through Dec. 31, 2049, keeping the existing property tax in place to fund land and water protection. The decision secures conservation funding for more than two decades in one of Florida’s fastest-growing regions.
The track record so far is substantial. Since 1999, the lands program has protected over 100 properties totaling roughly 42,000 acres through purchases and conservation easements, while the Neighborhood Parkland Program has acquired 33 properties covering 151 acres. County officials, including Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources director Shawn Yeager, credited overwhelming voter support for the extension, though specific vote totals and revenue projections were not released.
Properties are evaluated through the county’s established land-acquisition process, and officials say the funding will support identifying, maintaining and protecting sensitive land, water resources and parkland. For residents who hike the trails, kayak the waterways or simply value open space, the extension means those resources stay protected for a generation or more.
What’s your favorite protected place in Sarasota County? Let us know in the comments.
