Manatee County Expands Rye Preserve and Crane Park with Environmental Land Purchases
Manatee County commissioners unanimously approved the purchase of two East County properties on June 17, following a recommendation from the Environmental Lands Management and Acquisition Committee (ELMAC). The acquisitions include 4.5 acres adjacent to Rye Preserve and 13.4 acres next to Crane Park in Myakka City.
The Rye Preserve addition, costing $335,000, will provide a 150-foot wooded buffer between the historic Rye Family Cemetery and the growing Rye Crossing residential development. The property, purchased from Texas-based Manatee Property, Ltd., contains mixed hardwood forest, gopher tortoise habitat, and a portion of the Rye Branch stream. It scored highly in ELMAC’s environmental review process, particularly in terms of ecological value and connectivity to existing conservation lands.
Rye Preserve now totals over 534 acres and includes remnants of the historic Town of Rye, founded in 1878 by Erasmus Rye. County Commission Chair George Kruse expressed a desire to continue expanding the preserve, highlighting its significance as one of the few conservation areas in eastern Manatee County.
The 13.4-acre Crane Park addition, purchased for $420,000, is expected to support future recreational improvements and address recurring flooding challenges. Approximately half of the property consists of wetlands, while the remainder is upland forest that is currently used for cattle grazing. County staff indicated that the upland portion could offer higher, drier ground for future park amenities.
Crane Park, situated along the Myakka River, frequently floods during summer rains, temporarily closing facilities such as restrooms and pavilions. Although there are no immediate plans to redevelop the park, the additional acreage provides the county with options for relocating amenities. Restoration opportunities along the riverbanks and wetlands could be supported through future grants from the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Program.
The new land also lies within the Florida Wildlife Corridor, an 18-million-acre network of protected and potential conservation lands that stretches from the panhandle to the Florida Keys. The corridor is critical for maintaining habitat connectivity and environmental resilience across the state.
Both new parcels will be incorporated into existing maintenance plans and are not expected to add major ongoing costs.
Meanwhile, Manatee County is accepting applications to fill three seats on ELMAC. The advisory board plays a key role in recommending land acquisitions and shaping conservation strategy. Open seats include one for a banking, finance, or real estate professional; one for an agricultural community representative; and one for a natural sciences expert. Applications are open through July 7 at MyManatee.org.