Split Oak Forest

Split Oak Forest is an area of wilderness conservation lands east of Orlando in Osceola County, Florida.[1] A parkway extension project across the southern portion is proposed to provide vehicular access an area of new development.

The wilderness area includes prairie and scrub habitat including sandhill terrain and is home to gopher tortoises, sandhill cranes, eastern indigo snakes, fox squirrels, butterflies, woodpeckers, kestrels, various songbirds,[1] and some rare plant species. There are trails throughout the Park for visitors.

A Friends of Split Oak Forest group formed to try to protect the area from the intrusion of the road. A conservation land swap is proposed to mitigate impact from the road and this plan has received support from county commissioners and Charles Lee of the Florida Audubon Society. The Orlando Sentinel editorial board supports the road project with planned mitigation.[2]

A proposed Osceola Parkway extension is planned through the southern part of the preserve.[3][4][5] The road project is one of many including extensive new toll roads being proposed through largely undeveloped areas engendering controversy during Governor Ron DeSantis' tenure.

References
  1. "Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area". Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission.
  2. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board (November 21, 2019). "Split Oak highway compromise is about as good as it'll get — take the deal". Orlando Sentinel (Editorial).
  3. Powers, Scott (November 18, 2019). "Osceola Parkway preferred route to cut through southern end of Split Oak Forest". Florida Politics. Extensive Enterprises Media.
  4. Powers, Scott (November 18, 2019). "Osceola Parkway and Split Oak road recommendations to be revealed". Florida Politics. Extensive Enterprises Media.
  5. Spear, Kevin (October 31, 2019). "Split Oak controversy over expressway route re-emerges with tough choices". Orlando Sentinel.


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