Wildlife Corridor 911 is a group of volunteers working hard to save and protect the Wildlife Corridor and all its native habitat, some species of animals, birds and plants are threatened and endangered. This land is also part of the Lake Wales Ridge.  

Currently, the Polk County school board is considering multiple locations to build a new high school. One location in particular is at risk for development.  It is located within the Wildlife Corridor in Haines City, Florida and it is known as the "BTS Polk Marigold" or "Bowen" site.  It will be located on Lake Hatchineha Road just before Firetower Road.   The road leads to Allen David Broussard Catfish Creek Preserve State Park and the FFA Leadership Training Center.  The Polk County School Board has an alternative site that scored 275 points higher than this site that they can choose.

If the Polk County school board succeeds and a high school is built in the Wildlife Corridor, all the native species will be put at risk. Some of these species are Florida Panther, Scrub Jay, Bald-Eagle, Black Bear, Gopher Tortoise,  Scrub Lizard, Sand Skink (federally protected), Scrub Morning Glory, Scrub Plum, Pygmy Fringe Tree, Cutthroat Grass and many more.  The noise, lights and man-made activities will disrupt the natural migration of many bird and animal species. The additional vehicle traffic is also a major threat to the animals in this area.  

It is of great concern that this land is in the Northern Everglades and the Okeechobee Watershed that is protected by the state of Florida.  The use of fertilizer on football field and other grass will increase the phosphorus loads impacting the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program (NEEPP). This site is between Lake Pierce, Catfish Creek and Lake Hatchineha which is part of the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes that flows down the Kissimmee River to Lake Okeechobee which is the center of the Greater Everglades watershed.

We are advocating the Polk County school board adopts a resolution that states they will not consider any construction projects in the Wildlife Corridor, on the Lake Wales Ridge or land eligible for the Florida Forever Program. 

We are working hard to inform and educate the general public of what is taking place.  We need more volunteers and people to take a stand and say NO to developing the Wildlife Corridor.  

Please join our efforts to keep this land from being developed and sign our petition now.