Conservation Foundation Launches Last Minute Effort to Save Braden Woods

OSPREY – The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast is mounting a campaign to raise at least $1 million by the March 20 BOCC meeting, in order to help save a proposed Braden River Preserve from development. The group says that they are well on their way toward their goal. Here's how you can help.

The Manatee County Commission will decide at its March 20 meeting whether to tax neighborhoods to purchase the land. Conservation Foundation hopes to bring at least $1 million in donations to help defray the cost and make the amount assessed to each property in a proposed MSTU less. The group is hoping that by reducing the bottom line, they'll convince commissioners to vote in favor of the proposal, which has divided the homeowners involved.

The Floyd C. Johnson and Flo Singer Johnson Foundation pledged a $500,000 challenge grant, and within two days, Conservation Foundation says it secured pledges totaling nearly $700,000 to permanently protect 34 acres of natural habitat located on the Braden River.

"This is a rare opportunity to save 34 acres of old Florida on the Braden River from development," notes Christine Johnson, president of Conservation Foundation. "We are asking for community support now to raise at least a million dollars to defray taxpayers’ expense. It’s not very often that citizens have the chance to save significant land from development."

Citizens who'd like to contribute can make their pledge now at www.conservationfoundation.com/bradenriver or contact Andria Piekarz at andria@conservationfoundation.com.

If the property isn't acquired for a preserve, it will be developed into a 32-unit gated community. If it is acquired, Conservation Foundation will donate an adjoining 11.6 acres it controls to the preserve, making it a total of 44 acres.

Conservation Foundation will hold and enforce a perpetual conservation easement (permanent deed restrictions) that will ensure that all 44 acres remain a low-impact preserve forever, open to the public for walking, hiking or birdwatching.