Conservation Florida to open Dee Ranch Preserve trails May 1; nature center planned

Mark Rizzio, land manager for Conservation Florida, told the Deltona City Commission on April 7 that the nonprofit will open public access to Dee Ranch Preserve on May 1 and is planning a multi‑phase nature center and trail build-out.

Rizzio said the preserve comprises about 476 acres in Deltona and was donated to Conservation Florida in February 2019. “Dee Ranch Preserve provides significant upland habitat to the larger Lake Monroe conservation corridor,” he said, and described restoration work including mulching, invasive‑species control, and a prescribed‑fire program that has burned more than 70% of upland native habitats in the last three years.

The nut graf: Conservation Florida is seeking to pair habitat restoration with public access. Phase 1 of the nature‑center plan converts a 5,000‑square‑foot warehouse to exhibition and classroom space; later phases could add an ADA trail, equestrian parking and an overlook to an adjacent depression marsh. The organization said it secured a Volusia ECHO program matching award and private support; Florida Power & Light (via NextEra Energy) helped fund the trail work.

Rizzio described restoration details: the property was historically a cattle ranch, roughly 90% wetland on adjacent land, and has seen fire exclusion and ditching since the 1950s. He said mulching reduced palmettos from head‑high to knee‑high in parts of the preserve and allowed prescribed fire to be reintroduced. “We are opening our property up to the public. This will happen on May 1,” Rizzio said, and invited the commission to a morning ribbon cutting.

Commissioners asked about connectivity and wildfire risk. Commissioner Veil Vasquez thanked Rizzio for the tour and raised plans to connect the preserve to an adjacent county park across State Road 415. Rizzio said Conservation Florida has been talking with Volusia County Parks & Recreation, St. Johns River Water Management District and other partners about a pedestrian crossing at Reed Ellis Boulevard and a future land bridge across 415. He also said conservation outreach to neighboring property owners has been unsuccessful so far and warned that higher‑density development to the north could hamper prescribed burns and increase wildfire risk.

Commissioner Lully noted the protection value of surrounding lower‑density uses and referenced the commission’s study of a Deltona Weld Overlay District to encourage lower‑density or agricultural buffers near the preserve. Rizzio said the preserve partners with NRCS and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on restoration and has secured grants for mulching and other projects; he also highlighted volunteer opportunities, a planned Ranch Discovery program, and recent Boy Scout work (kiosk and bat box).

Ending: Conservation Florida said more than 3.5 miles of trails will be accessible starting May 1, with the nature‑center conversion under way; the organization asked the commission for continued partnerships on trail connectivity and support for surrounding conservation. Rizzio invited commissioners and staff to private tours and said the conservation work is ongoing.