The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has acquired 74 acres along Lake Pierce, expanding the Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park in Polk County. This purchase is part of the Catfish Creek Florida Forever Project and will allow new recreation options for visitors, such as camping, fishing, hiking, and expanded environmental education programs.
“Through Florida Forever, we focus on acquiring properties that deliver the greatest conservation benefit for our state,” said DEP Secretary Alexis A. Lambert. “This addition to Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park is exactly the kind of strategic investment that strengthens the Florida Wildlife Corridor and gives residents and visitors the opportunity to experience what makes Florida’s natural landscapes so special.”
The preserve currently protects over 8,000 acres of scrub, sandhill, and flatwoods habitat with six miles of hiking trails. The newly obtained land adds more than 6,000 feet of lakefront shoreline and includes existing infrastructure like The Ridge Environmental Education and Event Center. These features will help improve visitor access and resource-based recreational opportunities.
“Every Florida State Park offers something unique, and this new addition makes Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park even more remarkable,” said Florida State Parks Director Chuck Hatcher. “The natural lakefront and existing facilities will help us expand recreation and education opportunities while protecting one of Florida’s rarest ecosystems for the millions of people who enjoy our parks each year.”
Florida State Parks attract many visitors each year. In the most recent fiscal year, they saw over 28 million visitors, generated more than $82 million in revenue, and contributed an estimated $3.6 billion in economic impact statewide.
Located within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, this acquisition helps protect habitats for species such as the bald eagle, Florida scrub-jay, and gopher tortoise. It also supports water quality preservation in the Upper Kissimmee Basin—a key area for major waterways like the Kissimmee River, Lake Okeechobee, and America’s Everglades.
The acquisition was approved by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet at a previous meeting.
Since 2019, more than $1.5 billion has been committed to the Florida Forever program, with $950 million directed specifically toward conserving land within the Wildlife Corridor. This funding has allowed DEP to secure over 390,000 acres for conservation; about 90% is within the corridor itself.
For further information about these efforts or details on ongoing projects under this initiative can be found at FloridaForever.org.
