Green PLACE Program Adds Greeneyes Wildlife Preserve to List of Conserved Lands

As the population in the region continues to grow, Orange County is committed to providing a balance between the built environment and the natural environment through conservation efforts. The County’s goal is to conserve ecosystems that strengthen climate and biodiversity resilience, as well as safeguard habitats for wildlife. In that vein, local nature lovers now have a new place to explore. Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings and District 2 Commissioner Christine Moore recently hosted a grand opening ceremony for Apopka’s Greeneyes Wildlife Preserve, one of a series of land acquisitions made by the County’s Green PLACE Program. “It’s critically important we use our resources to preserve natural spaces for future generations,” said Commissioner Moore. “These land acquisitions will continue as we keep the momentum going.” An award-winning initiative that preserves, enhances and restores environmentally sensitive lands, the Green PLACE program, which started three decades ago, has bought 25,758 acres of property, many of which are now open to the public for activities such as hiking, fishing and birdwatching. “Orange County is leading sustainability efforts to preserve the natural beauty of the region, and we want to double our protected acreage in the next 10 years,” asserted Mayor Demings. “Last year alone, we purchased over 1,300 acres of environmentally sensitive lands.”

Historic Pine Hills Community on the Move: Pedestrian Safety Improvements, Beautification Efforts, a

Tamara Johnson never misses an opportunity to talk about the exciting things happening in Pine Hills. She’s so eager to spread the news that she often goes door-to-door in the community, encouraging residents and business owners to attend monthly meetings to engage, ask questions and learn. Johnson is passionate about this area of West Orange County for many reasons. With family residing in Pine Hills, she’s been a frequent visitor since childhood. Today, she’s the executive director of Orange County’s Pine Hills Neighborhood Improvement District, a position she’s held since 2023. “I do have a fondness for Pine Hills,” she said. “And now, I’m in a unique opportunity where I can make an impact. We want people to know that [Orange County] is here and we are committed to this community.” Over the past several years, Orange County has invested more than $67 million in Pine Hills, one of Orange County’s oldest and largest neighborhoods. Here’s a snapshot of what’s happening in Pine Hills: –Bicycle and pedestrian safety efforts – Four new sidewalks will be added in the next five years while 35 additional sidewalk projects are in the pipeline. Meanwhile, pedestrians and cyclists will see other changes in the community, including the addition of a 7-foot-wide dedicated bike lane from Colonial Drive to Silver Star Road. Pine Hills Road, located between Colonial Drive and Bonnie Brae Circle, will be reconstructed with a raised median. –Economic Development – The County is undertaking a major project to convert up to 93 parcels from septic tank to county sewer along Pine Hills Road from W. Colonial Drive to Golf Club Parkway. This project includes 70 percent commercial and 30 percent residential parcels within the project space. The utility improvements began in September 2024 and the project is scheduled for completion January 2026. This will create redevelopment opportunities along Pine Hills Road.

Affected by Hurricane Ian? There’s a Homeowner Program for Those who Qualify

Orange County Recovers is aimed at Property Owners Although Hurricane Ian steamrolled through Central Florida more than two years ago, many residents are still recovering from the damage the storm dealt. To help these families, Orange County is administering the Orange County Recovers Program (OCRP), which assists property owners by providing funding to repair, reconstruct or replace single-family homes that suffered storm damage. The program, federally funded by the Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program (CDBG-DR), is designed to ensure that the unmet housing repair needs of the low- to moderate income homeowners and vulnerable populations are addressed to the greatest extent possible. Its primary objective is to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing to eligible applicants. “We’re very proud to launch this program,” said Mitchell Glasser, manager, Orange County Housing & Community Development. “We know the road to recovery from that particular storm has been difficult for many residents, and we want to make the recovery process extremely accessible and get the work completed as quickly as possible.” In order to qualify for the program, the following must apply: Owned the damaged property at the time Hurricane Ian made landfall Currently own the damaged property Property was your primary residence at the time of Hurricane Ian The damaged property is in Orange County and its municipalities The damaged property must not be subject to active bankruptcy proceedings or in foreclosure Additionally, applicants need to have the following documents: