September 7, Sandy Ridge Sanctuary Tour Led by Former Mayor Gold

Coral Springs, Florida – On Saturday, September 7, former Coral Springs Mayor Roy Gold will lead monthly wildlife tours of Sandy Ridge Sanctuary for groups of locals and visitors.

During the trip, which takes place in a 38-acre park, Gold will guide guests on an exploration of the area that he assisted in preserving in the 1990s.

The tour will include a meandering walk that winds through the park, offering views of a sizable bog and a lake that was artificially constructed by the city and originally stocked with fish.

Every month on the first Saturday at 9:00 a.m., Sandy Ridge Sanctuary is guided by Gold and the City of Coral Springs Parks & Recreation Department. The length of the trips varies from thirty to an hour and a half, based on the age, skill, and level of interest of the group.

For individuals who would like to schedule a tour or volunteer, give Louis Goldstein a call at 954-345-2112.

Sandy Ridge Sanctuary, an important element of Coral Springs’s past, is a refuge for gopher tortoises and other native Florida animals. The sanctuary is a gopher tortoise preserve that is registered with the state and has particular guidelines, limitations, and upkeep needs.

When development ruined the tortoises’ native habitats, the city moved them to the park throughout the years.

Numerous plant species, such as Florida Slash Pines, Oaks, and Bald Cypress, can also be found in the sanctuary.

Observing how quickly the city was growing prompted Gold an idea that he presented to the public in 1994.

The city issued a $7.5 million environmentally sensitive land bond issuance in response to a citizen-driven movement to buy some of the remaining forested areas inside the municipal borders.

The sum came to $10 million with a $2.5 million state grant added on. It made it possible for the city to buy Sandy Ridge Sanctuary, Pine Flats Preserve, Cypress Gateway, and Red Lichen Sanctuary.

A development of 195 zero-lot dwellings was planned for the land prior to the 1994 bond issue’s passage. The concept of orchid wrist corsages was created by the landowner, Charlie Bosco, an orchid breeder.