Northeast Florida Regional Council recognizes the county’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands program achievements
Flagler County has been selected to receive an Annual Regional Award for Excellence from the Northeast Florida Regional Council for its work in environmental stewardship through the Environmentally Sensitive Lands program.
The county was notified on Monday, December 16, that it will be honored for its recent and ongoing land purchases through the ESL program. The award ceremony is scheduled for January 8.
“Northeast Florida is being shaped by visionary, transformational work that is uplifting communities and creating lasting impact across the region,” said Beth Payne, Chief Executive Officer of the Northeast Florida Regional Council. “It is truly inspiring to celebrate the projects and initiatives driving this progress, and we look forward to honoring these remarkable achievements at the Awards Ceremony on January 8.”
Flagler County closed on its fourth Environmentally Sensitive Land purchase within a year in October 2025. The most recent acquisition is a 5.15-acre parcel located west of the Hammock Dunes Bridge, purchased for the City of Palm Coast. The land will allow the city to expand its Linear Park to the north.
According to county records, more than half of the money spent since 1988 on environmentally sensitive lands within Flagler County has been directed toward purchases within municipalities or state parks. Within the City of Palm Coast specifically, ESL funds have contributed to the purchase of Linear Park, Long’s Landing, and Mulberry Branch.
