A new half-mile trail and wildlife observation platform at Turkey Creek Preserve in Alachua County have been dedicated to the late Florida conservationist Bob Simons.
About 60 people, including county officials, conservationists, friends and family, gathered Oct. 3, 2026, for the dedication, according to the Times of India. The Blue Trail leads visitors about a half-mile to the platform through the preserve’s wetlands and wooded habitat. Interpretive signs describe Simons’ conservation work, including his role in the Champion Tree program and his efforts to support Southeastern American kestrels.
Simons, who died in June 2024, spent more than five decades working to protect forests and wildlife habitat. A forester and longtime Alachua Audubon Society member, he helped advance conservation efforts across north-central Florida, including land that became part of the roughly 6,900-acre San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park.
Turkey Creek Preserve itself spans about 375 acres and had been planned for another phase of residential development before conservation efforts kept it as natural land. Alachua County acquired the preserve in December 2009 using Wild Spaces Public Places sales-tax funding and reimbursement through the Florida Communities Trust.
The preserve includes basin swamp, marshes, upland hardwood forest, blackwater streams and sinkholes. It also supports the state-endangered woodland poppy mallow and state-threatened gopher tortoise.
Simons also spent nearly three decades building, installing and maintaining nest boxes for Southeastern American kestrels. His work included monitoring nesting activity with a telescoping camera and involving interns and volunteers in the project.
The dedication ended with a vine-cutting rather than a traditional ribbon-cutting. WUFT reported that Simons believed vines have an ecological role and should not simply be pulled from trees.
