Lest any of you tree huggers think I’m completely insensitive to environmental issues, think again. While I don’t believe that the proposed North Miami Beach development known as Parkview Business Center is going to destroy Greynolds Park, there is something much bigger and infinitely more nefarious going on right under our noses. I already know about it. Do you?
According to an email distributed by the Tropical Audobon Society, the State of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is selling off “state-owned conservation lands.” According to the DEP’s website, this agency is in the process of assessing a multitude of land parcels that are “no longer needed for conservation purposes.” These parcels are referred to as “surplus sites.”
Two huge parcels are located right here in North Miami, and you can see the map by clicking here: Oleta River State Park Surplus Sites.
The email from the Tropical Audobon Society reads:
Please help us save 150 acres of conservation land at Oleta River State Park and several acres critical to wildlife in the Keys from being surplussed by the State!
As part of their Land Assessment, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has identified 2 parcels in Oleta River State Park amounting to 150 acres, as well as numerous parcels in the Keys, to be considered for surplus.
The parcels in Oleta River State Park, adjacent to the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves, are mangrove wetlands, critical for waterbirds and fisheries.
Tropical Audubon Society believes the State should be working to acquire more land for conservation such as these, not surplussing them.
There will be two webinars hosted where engaged citizens like yourself will have the opportunity to voice their concerns. Please sign up and speak up for Oleta River State Park and the Keys. Please join either one of the following webinars:
Thursday, August 22 from 6-8 p.m., sign up here.
Friday, August 23 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., sign up here.
If you cannot attend the webinars listed, please send your comments to ARC_mailinglist@dep.state.fl.us and tell DEP we want to keep these lands for conservation!
Warmest Regards,
Laura Reynolds
Executive Director
If you guys are really serious about doing something productive and proactive about the environment, this is where your efforts should be focused.
SAVE OLETA RIVER STATE PARK! (Unlike Greynolds, this park really does need saving.)
You should contact the DEP and your representatives in both Tallahassee and Congress, as well as your local and county representatives and let them know how you feel.
Being the concerned activists that you are, I will assume you have contact information for all of the above, so I won’t insult you by posting it here.
I do my job as a community activist. Now it’s your turn.
Get to work!
Stephanie Kienzle
“Spreading the Wealth”
I find it curious that the “surplussed” parcel at the South end is the same area that FIU wants to use for a second entrance off NE 135 Street. The president of FIU tried this once before and was met with great opposition form area residents, but once the land in question stops being a preserve and gets “surplussed”, probably to FIU, there will be no turning this plan back. See this article: http://www.biscaynetimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1031:time-for-plan-b-&catid=73:north-miami&Itemid=239
All mangroves are protected under the ESA…I don’t understand how this land despite the fact that its “surplussed” is even up for a debate if the flora is endangered as well as a critical concerning ecosystem.