House Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1680 North Fork Nature Center
Requester:	Audrey W. Peterman		Organization:		Earthwise Productions, Inc.
Project Title:	North Fork Nature Center		Date Submitted:		01/31/2000 7:29:55 PM
District Member:	Chris Smith		Service Area:		County
Counties Affected:	Broward
Recipient:	Earthwise Productions, Inc./National Audubon Society		Contact:		Frank W. Peterman
	2001 N.W. 112th Avenue		Contact Phone:		(954) 472-5959
	Plantation 33323
Project Description:
The North Fork is the only remaining section of the New River left in its natural state. It meanders some three miles through an urban setting surrounding by many of the oldest African American communities in Broward County. Much of its natural beauty is retained in the shoreline of the Meyers Estate property. The site is a snapshot of "Old Florida" with endangered pond apple and cypress trees festooned with flowering bromeliads. Wading birds including ibis, little blue herons, great blue herons, great egrets, snowy egrets, pied bill grebes, coots, gallinules, tri-color herons, and the shy night herons forage along the shore among the cypress knees. Soaring overhead are osprey and frequently red tailed hawks. You can even find exotic species like the loud and rancorous blue and yellow macaws. The North Fork is a unique juxtaposition of the human dimension and natural wild beauty in an inner city setting. It is doubtful that it is duplicated anywhere else in Florida or perhaps even the nation. To explore this unique resource, Earthwise Productions, Inc. through the sponsorship of National Audubon Society, Broward County Department of Natural Resource Protection and the South Florida Water Management District produced a Photographic Exhibit and Video on the North Fork of the New River in September 1997. It was during this time that the Meyer property came to our attention. While photographing, we encountered several boys playing along the riverbanks who invited us onto the site to show us the birds. It was their refuge from the streets and gave lmpetus to the idea of creating a nature center in the area. With that in mind, National Audubon Society and Earthwise Productions proposed to develop a nature center at the Meyers Estate property in collaboration with the Browards County Housing Authority.
Services Provided/Benefit to State:
Preservation and conservation of a unique ecological space. This is the last remnant of the original Everglades Riverside System.
Measurable Outcome Anticipated:
Creation of facilities within an urban community to teach the values of environmental responsibility and protection.
Amount requested from the State for this project this year:				$500,000
Total cost of the project:		$1,000,000

Request has been made to fund:			Operations and Construction
Is there Local Government or Private match for this request?					Yes
	Cash Amount:	$500,000
Was this project previously funded by the State?					No
Is future-year funding likely to be requested?					Yes
	Amount:	$100,000
	Purpose for future year funding:			Recurring Operations
	Will this be an annual request?				Yes
Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?					Unknown
Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?					Unknown
Is there a documented need for this project?					No
Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?					No