Fernandina Beach now owns nearly 10 acres of new conservation land along Egans Creek, the result of a donation and a discounted sale that expand the Ron Sapp Egans Creek Greenway.

The North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) announced the completed acquisitions Monday, Oct. 5. One parcel, nearly nine acres of wetlands buffering Egans Creek, was donated by Sherry Quattlebaum. The second, roughly one acre of uplands with frontage on Sadler Road, was purchased from Pineland Holding Company, LLC, owned by John Adler. Adler sold the property at a discount for conservation, according to NFLT.

The city owns and manages both parcels. Deed restrictions limit their use to nature-based recreation, passive parks or open space.

Landowner donates nearly nine acres

Quattlebaum, who had a dual career as a schoolteacher and real estate professional, acquired the wetland parcel in the early 2000s. She said she donated it through NFLT to ensure it stayed natural and could serve as an amenity for Fernandina Beach residents.

"Over the years, I have seen articles about the land trust's work and felt that it was advantageous to work with them to donate the land to the city," Quattlebaum said. "The land is located within an area that is also a wildlife corridor, and my hope was it would become a continuation of the greenway."

Conservation partnership targets 28 acres

The acquisitions are the first completed under a renewed memorandum of understanding between the city and NFLT. As the Fernandina Observer reported Sept. 5, the Fernandina Beach City Commission voted 4-0 on Sept. 2 to approve the agreement and set aside up to $240,000 from the city's Land Conservation Trust Fund.

NFLT committed approximately $500,000 toward a broader plan targeting five parcels totaling about 28 acres. Three parcels remain pending.

NFLT's share comes from the Amelia Forever Fund, established in 2019 to acquire remaining natural spaces on Amelia Island. On Sept. 7, NFLT also announced a $1 million anonymous donation restricted to Nassau County conservation, as first reported by Action News Jax.

Allison DeFoor, NFLT president and CEO, said in a statement that the partnership moved quickly after the agreement was renewed. She said the new parcels will strengthen a wildlife corridor along Egans Creek that is uninhibited by development and will remain in a natural state permanently.

City Manager Sarah Campbell called the Quattlebaum donation a gift that will benefit generations of Fernandina Beach residents and thanked NFLT for making the conservation effort possible.

Greenway provides wildlife habitat, flood protection

The greenway stretches more than 300 acres north to south along Egans Creek. It is open to the public with trails, benches and interpretive displays, and supports wildlife including alligators, marsh rabbits and many bird species.

At the Sept. 2 commission meeting, Commissioner Joyce Tuten, who lives adjacent to the greenway, stressed the corridor's role in absorbing floodwater and argued the island's long-term livability depends on protecting undeveloped land.

No timeline has been announced for trail access or improvements on the newly acquired parcels.