Alachua County adopts Wild Spaces & Public Places project list, prioritizing conservation with some park projects

The Alachua County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 9 adopted a proposed county project list for reauthorizing the Wild Spaces & Public Places surtax, endorsing a slate of conservation acquisitions and park/infrastructure projects the county would fund if the ballot measure is approved.

Assistant County Manager Gina Peoples and Alachua County Forever staff presented the list, which includes roughly $121 million identified for conservation land acquisition and a range of park infrastructure projects and a proposed fairgrounds component. Peoples described the list as an unprioritized snapshot to be used in public communications and said staff will work with municipalities to finalize partnerships and priorities before ballot language is finalized.

"Whenever the Board last discussed it, we provided a timeline," Peoples told commissioners. Staff described options for prioritizing projects with advisory committees and indicated some partnership projects from municipalities could be added before the ballot is finalized.

Commissioner Byerley urged a heavy emphasis on land conservation and warned against expanding infrastructure items beyond the county’s core conservation role. Commissioner Pinkerson opposed the motion on fiscal and operational grounds, noting that new projects carry future operating costs not funded by the surtax. Commissioner Cornell said the list is largely conservation-focused and supports finding a small number of high-impact community park projects.

County program staff reported the county has a $121 million list of nominated properties and several hundred prioritized acres that could be pursued if funding resumes. They also discussed the county’s use of conservation easements, monitoring and enforcement, and the option of registering properties on the county’s Registry of Protected Public Places.

After extended discussion about fairgrounds funding, the balance between acquisition and recreation, and whether to preserve the county’s ability to manage easements, the board voted to adopt the county project list. The motion passed 4–1, with Commissioner Pinkerson recorded in dissent. Commissioners directed staff to return with recommendations on prioritization and to consider potential state matching funds where appropriate.

The adoption is procedural — it does not commit the county to funding every item on the list but establishes the items eligible to be funded by the surtax if voters approve the renewal.