Hundreds of community members join Sarasota Audubon Society and Big Waters Land Trust for Oct. 24 event
On Saturday, Oct. 24, more than 500 people of all ages enjoyed a morning in nature, as Big Waters Land Trust, based in Osprey, and the Sarasota Audubon Society celebrated the grand opening of the Southeast Quad adjacent to the internationally renowned bird-watching destination, the Celery Fields, a Big Waters news release says.
The celebration marked the completion of Phase I of the re-wilding of the three Sarasota County-owned parcels immediately west of the Celery Fields, which serve “as a buffer to this critical environmental treasure and an extension of the habitat for birds and people alike,” the news release explains.
During the event, guided nature and birdwatching tours of the 11-acre site were offered, along with family-friendly activities and information provided by Audubon and Big Waters, “with Kona Ice on site to provide cool treats to all visitors,” the release notes.
The Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the William G. and Marie Selby Foundation “and others gave their trust in us to do what we said we could do and would do: created habitat for wildlife and green space for all to enjoy,” said Audubon Director of Special Projects Jeanne Dubi during the event. “Today we have repaid that trust.”
In her remarks, Dubi also “noted the tremendous increases in bird and insect species, as well as other wildlife species that have been spotted on the site,” the release continues.
In 2019, the Sarasota County Commission granted Big Waters Land Trust (known then as the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast) a perpetual conservation easement on the Southeast, Northeast and Southwest Quads adjacent to the Celery Fields, the release explains. At the same time, it adds, the county entered into a management agreement with Sarasota Audubon “to re-wild and maintain the three parcels. Since then,” the release points out, the organizations have collaborated to raise funds and secure external vendors to re-wild the 33 acres, “which will improve wildlife habitat, buffer the Celery Fields from industrial uses and I-75 to the west, and provide low-impact public access.”
Three phases were planned, to address one Quad at a time, the release says.
Phase I of the re-wilding project, which was launched in January 2025, involved improvements on the 11-acre Southeast Quad, including the planting of more than 21,000 trees and plants, along with the creation of trails, a pond and a wildlife-viewing gazebo, the release continues. “The day before the public grand opening, organizational leaders and staff teams” representing Sarasota Audubon, Big Waters Land Trust and Sarasota County Government welcomed approximately 50 civic leaders and community members for brief comments and a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark and celebrate the official opening of the Southeast Quad, the release adds.
In attendance were Commissioners Ron Cutsinger, Teresa Mast and Mark Smith; former Commissioner Charles Hines; County Administrator Jonathan Lewis and members of the Sarasota County staff team; numerous representatives of the Kimley-Horn consulting firm in Sarasota and the construction management firm Willis A. Smith Construction of Lakewood Ranch; “and major donors to the re-wilding effort.”
Among the speakers were former Commissioner Jon Thaxton, a well-known environmentalist and the director of policy and advocacy for the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, which is based in Venice (he also served as emcee), Commissioner Cutsinger, Big Waters Land Trust President and CEO Christine Johnson, and Dubi of Sarasota Audubon.
“A project like this takes vision, commitment, time and a great deal of hard work — but, most importantly, collaboration,” said Johnson. “One of my favorite sayings is, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’ Togetherness is how re-wilding these three parcels gets done,” she added.
“Next up,” the release notes, “the organizations will be working on the Southwest Quad Parcel, which will include features for visitors of all ages: a Celery Fields history walk along a winding path,” a natural play area for children, shaded picnic tables, open space and parking. Trails and walkways will be compliant with the U.S. Americans with Disabilities Act, it also points out.
A $1-million community matching campaign has been funded by the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the Gulf Coast Community Foundation “and several generous area philanthropic families to inspire giving,” the release notes.
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.