Alachua County’s land conservation program, Alachua County Forever (ACF), is hosting a public input workshop on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss future recreational opportunities at Lochloosa Slough Preserve. The meeting will be held in the cafeteria of Shell Elementary School (21633 SE 65th Ave., Hawthorne).
Lochloosa Slough Preserve is a 6,265-acre preserve in southeast Alachua County, south of Hawthorne.
Attendees should be ready to actively participate in conversations about these potential recreation plans, as county staff is seeking input specifically on recreation to be considered for the county’s 10-year Management Plan.
At the workshop, ACF staff will facilitate group conversations among community members and various potential user groups to discuss all the potential nature-based recreational opportunities planned for the preserve. Opportunities will likely include hiking, bicycling, hunting, horseback riding and general nature observation.
“The goal of the meeting is to have people talk to each other in a group setting where they can share what types of recreation they would like to see offered, but also to listen to what other opportunities people may want access to as well,” said ACF Stewardship Coordinator Ryan Kennelly. “This preserve is well set up to accommodate multiple recreational uses, and County staff want to serve a broad range of users while protecting the preserve’s natural resources.”
For more information, contact Ryan Kennelly at 352-727-0432 or rkennelly@alachuacounty.us.
