Lake County receives $1.5M grant for Lake May Reserve

Lake County has been awarded a $1.5 million state grant for improvements to Lake May Reserve, a 136-acre passive park northeast of Eustis that is popular for hiking, running and birdwatching.

The Florida Communities Trust grant will be used to develop amenities and provide landscape improvements, according to County Commissioner Leslie Campione, who visited Tallahassee last week to accept a ceremonial check.

“These additional features, such as canoe and kayak launch, picnic pavilion and trail, will attract both area residents and visitors to the property to experience Lake County’s natural resources and quality of life,” Campione said in a statement.

The park off Burlington Avenue, which opened in July 2011, was purchased for $6.2 million. One of nine county passive parks, the Lake May site was acquired under a $36 million land-preservation plan funded by a special tax approved in 2004 by Lake voters.

Notable birds seen there include the ash-throated flycatcher, pectoral sandpiper and Bonaparte's gull, according to a description of the park on the county’s website. Lake May also has ducks, grebes and herons and visitors share the park with raccoons, Florida black bears, coyotes and gopher tortoises.

The Florida Communities Trust is funded by the Florida Forever Program, under which the state has acquired more than 718,000 acres for preservation.