Garden Guardians Political Action Committee Announces Campaign to vote YES to grant the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden a 99 year lease from the City

Key West – Misha McRAE, Executive Director of the Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden announced the launch of a campaign to educate voters in Key West to vote YES on a referendum to grant the Garden Society a 99 year lease on their property on College Road. “When we approached the city commissioners, all six of them and the mayor were very supportive of this initiative.” McRAE said. “We currently are on year 6 of a 10 year lease and in order for us to secure funding for capital improvements we need to have a long term lease in place,” he added.

There will be a City Commission sponsored referendum on the August 23rd Election ballot asking voters to grant the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden a 99-year lease from the city.

A local political action committee has been formed, Garden Guardians, to encourage Key West voters to vote yes to approve the measure. “The Garden has been the keeper of the trees for 86 years,” McRAE said. “Over those 86 years we have gone from over 50 acres to 15 acres as development has taken priority over preservation and conservation. We want to preserve the remaining forest for generations to come and enjoy the native species of plants.”

The land is owned by the City of Key West and due to the limitations on lease terms this must go to the voters to be approved. The Garden Society, which was formed in 1988 and continues to care for the garden, states that the lease extension will allow them to apply for grants to  make much needed capital improvements.

Improvements that are planned for the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden include physical maintenance, repairs, and general upkeep of the aging facilities; expansion of the  Education offices and opportunities;  and ADA compliant Boardwalk repairs. Even more importantly, the 99 year lease will allow the Key West Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden to be more visible with new signage on US1 and an improved entrance.

The Tropical Forest & Botanical Garden is home to over 500 species of native plants to the Keys, Cuba, and the Caribbean. It is the only frost-free botanical garden in the continental United States.

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