Polk Forever

05/31/2026

The theater was packed with people of all ages and backgrounds, united by a shared belief that Wild Florida is worth protecting.
- Gretchen Hoke

05/29/2026

Keep Polk County Beautiful - Our Mission is to empower individuals to take greater responsibility for enhancing their community environment.

Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc. is a 501c3 non-profit organization, and is an affiliate of Keep Florida Beautiful, Inc. and Keep America Beautiful, Inc. that works with civic, business, government, educational and community groups across the county to improve the aesthetic and ecological value of our communities through litter control and prevention, beautification, waste reduction, recycling and proper handling and disposal of solid waste.

Keep Polk County Beautiful, Inc.
Log Cabin at 45 4th St. S, Eagle Lake
P.O. Box 123
Eagle Lake, FL 33839
(863) 875-8911 Office
(863) 205-2761 Mobile

05/28/2026

Join us for a Corridor double feature of The Wild Divide & Building Wild Spaces followed by a Conservation Panel at the history Ritz Theatre

05/28/2026

Voters in Vero Beach, Stuart, elsewhere in Indian River, Martin and 22 other counties taxed themselves to preserve environmentally sensitive land.

05/28/2026

The Florida Wildlife Corridor Foundation event May 29 in Winter Haven will feature two short films and a panel discussion.

05/26/2026

Polk County Commissioners approved the acquisition of 225 +/- acres on Camp Mack Road along Lake Rosalie in Lake Wales.   A great example of Polk County’s commitment to environmental preservation, water quality improvement, and habitat restoration through local and federal partnerships.

Important property for:
The Wildlife Corridor - a critical connector piece of the wildlife corridor where a recent video recorded panthers moving through this area.
Water quality - Allows for a natural water treatment system project to treat water before it enters into Lake Rosalie.
Partnerships - Polk County is leveraging 45% of this acquisition through the federal government.  

The total purchase will not exceed $2,981,250.
$1,696,250 funding from Polk Stormwater Municipal Services Taxing Unit (MSTU) Kissimee Watershed Project.
$1,300,000 grant reimbursement to Polk from Avon Park Air Force Range encroachment buffer zone Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program.

To learn more -
View the BoCC Regular Session & Public Hearing May 19, 2026
meeting on Polk Government TV at polk-county.tv (https://www.polk-county.tv/) starting at the 10:58 minute/second  time stamp.
Read Tom Palmer’s Conservation News at https://www.ancientislands.org

05/20/2026

Discover essential irrigation tips for Florida landscapes on the SWFWMD website. Learn about water-efficient practices, plant selection, and equipment maintenance to optimize your watering routine. Visit for expert advice on complying with local restrictions and adjusting schedules based on weather....

05/20/2026

05/15/2026

Please Urge Lawmakers to Fully Fund Florida Forever to ensure the final budget includes a minimum of $100 million for Florida Forever, with full authority to purchase BOTH land outright and conservation easements.

Our hope to protect Polk County’s last green threads of natural wildlife connection depends on Florida Forever funding. The connection, protection and restoration of this network of lands and waters are important for conservation and recreation.

Florida’s special legislative budget session ends May 29, 2026. The budget proposals fall far short of the $100 million-a-year minimum the Legislature itself made in to law in 2023.

In 2023, the Florida Legislature unanimously passed a law requiring at least $100 million a year for Florida Forever — the state’s premier land conservation program. Today, the House budget proposes $0. The Senate proposes $50 million, restricted to easements only. Nearly $179 million in planned conservation projects is sitting in limbo, with willing sellers waiting on the state to act.

Please send your message to the key budget decision-makers now using 1000 Friends of Florida’s contact list - https://www.facebook.com/1000fof and Instagram

05/14/2026

Sand skink surveys took place this year along the Lake Wales Ridge.
Sand Skinks are indicator species, their presence in upland scrub habitats along the Central Florida Ridges indicate the health of these rare ecosystems.   Sand skinks are fossorial “sand swimmers” spending most of their lives underground leaving behind distinctive squiggly tracks.

Wildlife surveying is one of many volunteer opportunities offered through Polk County’s Parks and Natural Resources.

Apply to become a volunteer.  
Learn more at
www.polkfl.gov/about/volunteer