Bok Tower Gardens raises concerns about proposed parkway potentially impacting wildlife corridor
LAKE WALES, Fla. - Polk County is a hot spot for growth, hence why the state is currently considering routes for a future parkway, but there's some concern the highway could impact a wildlife corridor.
Bok Tower Gardens is a meditative garden and a nature and bird sanctuary. It's also a National Historic Landmark, and David Price, its president, said a proposed highway nearby would threaten the peace.
"There would be a lot of road noise and light pollution and also into our viewshed," said Price.
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Why you should care:
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is considering building a tolled highway from SR 60 to US 17/92. There are four possible routes — two of which Price is opposed to, Routes C and D, because they would be constructed within 2,000 feet of the gardens.

He added the corridors would run through a documented panther and wildlife corridor.
"For the last 30 years, we've been working to protect land around the gardens, and we've preserved through conservation easements or purchases of about 800 acres around the gardens," said Price.
Price explained that a corridor route east of 27 and south of Cypress Gardens Boulevard was approved back in 2012, but so much development happened in the area since then that it could no longer be built.
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By the numbers:
According to the state, Polk County's population will grow another 52% by 2050, so the new highway would alleviate heavy traffic congestion to US-27.

What they're saying:
"Bok Towers is not asking to stop development or to stop building roads," said Price.
What he is asking for is for FDOT to reevaluate alternative routes that aren't so close to the gardens.
"We just ask for good planning and that natural wildlife corridors are taken into account," said Price. "And that historical and cultural entities that have been working for 100 years are respected."
What's next:
FDOT will decide on a corridor route in April, and it's possible they could choose a hybrid of two routes. For more information, click here.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Carla Bayron, who interviewed Bok Tower Gardens' president. She also used information from the Florida Department of Transportation.
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