( ALVA, Fla. ) W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area once had an 8.5-acre open, grassy field that saw little use and provided minimal habitat for wildlife and pollinators. Recognizing an opportunity to enhance ecological value while also reducing operations and maintenance costs, the Jacksonville District’s Natural Resources Program proposed reforesting this underutilized 8.5-acres through the Engineering with Nature initiative. By doing so, the use of fossil fuels associated with mowing would be reduced, thereby lowering emissions and our carbon footprint. The Natural Resources Management team aimed to restore natural habitat, provide educational opportunities for the local community, and attract pollinators and native species by creating a Florida native habitat.
After months of planning, research, and collaboration, the EWN project delivery team broke ground in June of 2022. The USACE South Florida Operations Office’s heavy equipment crew was instrumental in this phase, creating an ephemeral wetland with an observation berm that offers a vantage point over the entire project site.
The first large-scale community planting event was held on National Public Lands Day, September 24th, 2022. Approximately 100 volunteers, including Park Rangers and USACE employees, came together to plant nearly 3,000 three-gallon Florida native trees and shrubs – just four days before Hurricane Ian struck the Fort Myers regions. Remarkably, the newly planted vegetation remained almost entirely unharmed.
Building on this success, two additional large-scale community planting days were organized in 2023 – one during National Pollinator Week on June 24th and another on National Public Lands Day on September 23rd. A total of 125 volunteers participated, completing the planting of the remaining 48,000 baby wildflowers and grasses.
More recently, USACE volunteers constructed an informational kiosk to display printed panels that feature a site map, project background, and facts about pollinators and native species. This summer of 2024, the heavy equipment crew also completed the construction of a 0.5-mile walking path through the reforested area.
Over the past two years, these 8.5-acres have undergone an incredible transformation. Restoring this area to its natural state has encouraged the return of pollinators and native species by providing critical habitat. The cessation of regular mowing has further promoted natural regrowth, resulting in a more diverse habitat. This has led to the emergence of native wildflowers and groundcover, which in turn, has attracted native birds, various pollinator species, small mammals, and even a gopher tortoise.
As we reflect on the progress of the W.P. Franklin South reforestation project thus far, Park Rangers and USACE volunteers remain dedicated to nurturing this habitat and enhancing its ecological and community value. We are excited to see this ecosystem continue to thrive and hope the community will enjoy this green space for many years to come.
For more news, updates and information visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District district’s website at www.saj.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Jacksonvilledistrict, and on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/JaxStrong.