- January 31, 2025
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Come across this sight when driving on John Anderson Drive recently?
The clearing of marshland at North Peninsula State Park isn’t a cause for alarm — it’s part of Florida Park Services final phase of a salt marsh restoration project that began back in 2009.
Department of Environmental Protection spokesperson Alexandra Kuchta said in an email that “restoring this salt marsh habitat will limit exotic and invasive vegetation, promote greater tidal exchange across the salt marsh areas, restore habitat for estuary fish, shellfish and other wildlife species and increase opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation.”
According to the state parks’ website, these local marshes were impacted in the late 1800s and early 1900s when the Intracoastal Waterway was created. Since 2009, the state has completed six phases of restoration in over 100 acres. One of the invasive species removed during the clearing was the Brazilian peppertree, which is originally from tropical South America.
Kuchta said the contractor will begin re-vegetating the marsh once the rest of timber is cleared and debris is burned.
The park is open and no closures of public areas are anticipated.
The Cassen Park floating dock project was recognized as an “Outstanding Public Improvement Project in the 2020 Florida Main Street Secretary of State Awards, according to a Facebook post by Ormond MainStreet.
Executive Director Julia Truilo presented the award to the City Commission at its meeting on Oct. 6.
Every year, the city recognizes five individuals or groups with the mayor’s Award for Civic Engagement at its annual State of the City Address.
Here are this year’s recipients:
A crane flipped over and became stuck on Airport Road on Wednesday, Oct. 7.
Fire Chief Richard Sievers said the driver of the crane swerved to avoid a vehicle who was starting to drift into their lane. There were no injuries.