Community members of all ages are invited to enjoy a special morning in nature on Oct. 24 as Big Waters Land Trust and the Sarasota Audubon Society celebrate the grand opening of the Southeast Quad adjacent to the Celery Fields in Sarasota County.
The Southeast Quad opening represents the completion of Phase I of the rewilding of three parcels west of the Celery Fields, serving as a buffer to critical environment and an extension of habitat for birds and other wildlife.
During the event from 9 a.m. to noon, there will be hourly tours of the 11-acre site, family activities, and information provided by Audubon and Big Waters. Guests can enjoy walking and birdwatching and learn more about ongoing plans for the remaining parcels.
“We are thrilled to
be able to open a portion of the Quads to the general public," Jeanne Dubi of the Sarasota Audubon Society said. "For the last 18 months, Sarasota Audubon has overseen the construction of the 11-acre site and is delighted to welcome the community to enjoy Sarasota’s newest green space.”
The rewilding of the three parcels adjacent to the Celery Fields involves 33 acres at the intersection of Palmer Boulevard and Apex Road. The project became a reality in 2019, when the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners granted Big Waters Land Trust (at that time known as the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast) a perpetual conservation easement on the southeast, northeast and southwest Quad Parcels and, at the same time, entered into a management agreement with Sarasota Audubon to rewild and maintain the three parcels.
Big Waters and the Audubon are spearheading the joint fundraising effort to bring the full scope of the plans to life.
The first phase of the rewilding project, launched in January 2025, involved improving the 11-acre Southeast Quad by planting over 21,000 trees and plants while creating trails, a pond, and wildlife-viewing gazebo. A new $1 million matching opportunity – supported by Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation and three local philanthropic families – will support the next phase, which aims to transform the Southwest Quad into a nature-based community space, featuring a natural play area for kids, shaded picnic tables, parking and facilities, and ADA-compliant trails and walkways.
“The rewilding project will improve wildlife habitat, buffer the Celery Fields from industrial uses and I-75 to the west, and provide low-impact public access,” Big Waters president Christine Johnson said. “At Big Waters Land Trust, our mission is to protect land and water for the benefit of people and nature and we are thrilled to see that mission come to life at the Quad Parcels.”
Just wild about the future
The Celery Fields is a nationally and internationally recognized birding hotspot and vital to water quality and flood protection in the area. The perpetual conservation easement of the three parcels ensures that these public lands and the improvements will remain for the public to enjoy forever, Big Waters and Sarasota Audubon said.
Visit bigwaterslandtrust.org/rewilding-the-quad-parcel-at-the-celery-fields or sarasotaaudubon.org/quad to learn more about the rewilding project. To donate to the project, visit bigwaterslandtrust.org/donate or memberplanet.com/campaign/sarasotaaudubonsociety/rewildingthequads.
Big Waters protects Florida’s land and water through strategic collaborations with individuals, groups, organizations, and government. Learn more at bigwaterslandtrust.org. Sarasota Audubon is dedicated to the protection, conservation, and enjoyment of birds, wildlife and the environment. Visit SarasotaAudubon.org.
Submitted by Sharon Kunkel
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Big Waters, Audubon celebrate grand opening of SE Quad at Celery Fields
