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Wellfield Tract Addition Expands Nature Preserve

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By MIKE SALINERO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 27, 2007

A 1,000-plus-acre tract of environmentally sensitive land that's been on Hillsborough County's wish list for more than a decade could be in the public domain by year's end.

Kurt Gremley, head of the county's environmental land-buying program, said county officials have made a successful bid of $17.25 million for the 1,018-acre Wilde tract in northwest Hillsborough. County commissioners are scheduled to vote on the deal Dec. 5.

The purchase is significant because the land will hook up with the Brooker Creek Preserve in Pinellas County, offering wildlife in the preserve a wider migration range. Gremley said it's rare to find such a large, cohesive piece of property in its natural state in an urbanized area.

"It's a special piece of property," Gremley said.

The owners of the property, G. William Wilde of Key Biscayne and Peter Wilde of Brookline, Mass., had shown little interest in selling the land until late last year, Gremley said. They are the heirs of a family that has long leased the land's abundant wellfields, the source of millions of gallons of the region's drinking water supply.

The county applied for state funding this year to cover some of the purchase price, but came up short in competition with other counties and cities for the Florida Communities Trust grant. Gremley said he thinks the county will have a better chance to secure the funding next year. Applicants get extra points in the scoring for the grants if the land has already been purchased.

Another requirement for state funding is that the land has public access. The tract only has one access road now, and it's in Pinellas County.

Gremley said there will be a public hearing tonight to discuss construction of an access road into the property. The hearing will be at 6:30 p.m. at the Austin Davis Library at Wayne Road and Gunn Highway.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303 or msalinero@tampatrib.com.

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