New 11-acre nature preserve opening near Sarasota’s Celery Fields

SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - A new outdoor space is opening to the public in Sarasota County this weekend, marking a major milestone in a years-long effort to protect wildlife habitat near the Celery Fields.Big Waters Land Trust and Sarasota Audubon Society are celebrating the grand opening of the Southeast Quad on Saturday, October 24, from 9 a.m. to noon. The free event will give families an opportunity to explore the newly restored 11-acre property, enjoy guided tours and learn more about ongoing conservation efforts.The Southeast Quad is the first completed phase of a larger project to restore 28 acres across three parcels adjacent to the Celery Fields, a 440-acre floodwater protection area in eastern Sarasota County known for birdwatching.Christine Johnson with Big Waters Land Trust and Jeanne Dubi with Sarasota Audubon Society joined ABC7 to discuss the transformation and what visitors can expect.The project began in 2019 when the two organizations joined forces to prevent the propert