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Sarasota News Leader December 27, 2013 Page 27 Birdwatching and other eco-tourism activities are popular throughout the state, attracting flocks of visitors — just as some migratory birds themselves come south. Tourists in pursuit of such recreation in Sarasota County spent more dollars than visiting golfers did last year, Dubi said, referencing a local tourism report. Once the local Audubon chapter's endowment grows, Dubi hopes to hire an executive director to run the nature center. The organization is still accepting donations that will go toward the entire project: www.sarasotaaudubon.org. The center will not be just for tourists; it will be a facility for local residents and an integral part of the Audubon chapter's Celery Fields Explorer program, which brought more than 1,100 Sarasota students to the Celery Fields last year. The program is funded jointly by Sarasota Audubon and the Gulfcoast Community Foundation. One of two boardwalks at the Celery Fields, this structure offers visitors vistas of the marsh. Photo by Roger Drouin Wade would have preferred a natural history museum on the county-owned land, but he said it is encouraging that the local Audubon group was asked to participate in the planning phase of the development. One of the possible discussion items in that process is the potenBUFFER PLANS tial implementation of a linear trail between Along with planning for the center, Audubon Benderson's industrial/business complex and leadership has been involved in preliminary the Celery Fields. discussions between Sarasota County and Once the Benderson project has been comBenderson Development Co., which proposes to build an industrial project on 42 coun- pleted, along with other developments such ty-owned acres one mile north of the nature as the Fruitville Initiative (see the related story in this issue), the Celery Fields will facility. become even more of a gem in a growing According to Wade, the goal is for Sarasota industrial and commercial part of the county, Audubon to help ensure the 200,000-squareDubi pointed out. foot development dovetails as well as possible with the preserve space to its south. The county in October took some other steps At a special meeting on Nov. 26, the county to enhance the preserve. It hired a contractor commissioners directed Benderson to include to plant pine trees and native shrubs on the specifications for lighting and a buffer that Celery Fields hill — the landmark visible to would be appropriate in consideration of the Fruitville Road motorists. Already, palm warnearby environmental area. blers are making the habitat their home. %