Re-Wilding the Quad Parcels
An extraordinary partnership. An unprecedented gift. A legacy that protects the Celery Fields forever. Sarasota Audubon and Big Waters Land Trust are working together to raise the funds to improve the habitat and manage the conservation easement for the Quad Parcels at the Celery Fields.
These three parcels – Southeast, Southwest and Northeast, and owned by Sarasota County – are under the management of Sarasota Audubon. The Conservation Easement is held by Big Waters on 33 acres (28 acres are undergoing re-wilding).
Below, the three Quads under Sarasota Audubon management. The fourth (lower left) was retained by Sarasota County for their use.
Southeast Quad (upper right)
- Spring 2025: sufficient donations to cover the $2.6 million re-wilding project, were in hand.
- July 2025: work began with native plantings on the 11 acres, a one-acre pond was installed, and a gazebo overlooking the pond was constructed.
- July 2026: installation of more than 21,000 plants and trees was completed, and extensive walking paths were laid out.
The 1-acre pond on the SE Quad has already hosted more than a dozen species of waders. A pair of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks nested and hatched 20 young!
Southwest Quad (lower right)
- Work in this Quad will begin in fall of 2026.
- Amenities will include parking lot, restrooms, children’s natural play area, a flex lawn, walking paths, shaded sitting areas, and many more trees and plants.
- The cost of re-wilding this Quad will be in the range of $3 million.
Concept plan for future SW Quad, a family space for passive recreation and nature play.
Northeast Quad (upper left)
- When the Southwest Quad is complete, we will re-wild the Northeast Quad with trees and shrubs around the edges, as well as a perimeter walking path, complete with benches.
Maintenance
We have seen too many worthy projects get under way with no real sense of how to maintain them. Not so with the Quad parcels. All along Sarasota Audubon has been mindful of maintaining and protecting the parcels to benefit humans and wildlife for years to come.
We expect when all three Quads are complete for it to cost $50,000-$75,000 per year to maintain them. We are establishing a maintenance fund for that purpose.
Community Matching Grant – Be a Part of It!
In order to continue and complete the rewilding, a community matching grant program of $1 million was launched on September 1, 2026. This effort will match $1 million already raised by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation, the Elizabeth Moore Sunrise Fund, the Elsa & Peter Soderberg Charitable Foundation, and Bob and Joan Geyer.
WILL YOU HELP US WITH THIS MATCHING GRANT?
Please donate what you can. Birds, wildlife, and humans will all benefit from the amazing efforts of this wonderful collaboration between non-profits, foundations, individual donors, Sarasota County, and YOU.
