Natural Beauty
The newly appointed board sought to address the area right away,but with little money in the HOA reserves and the astronomical bids from contractors, the issue had to be tabled in favor of more pressing matters. Many of our neighborhood advocates and longtime board members, including Mary Langley, consistently pushed to address Reflecting on the success of our preservation the issue of “the swamp,” but the park restoration, which we proudly built together. frustrating lack of revenue made it an impossibility. Sadly, the last with a $400,000 shortfall in its The Preservation Park is now the of the oaks toppled in 2017 before reserve fund, the park suffered hallmark of our community. The any headway could truly be made. from weeds, invasive trees, and two-area conservation space has Finally, in 2020, things started vines pulling down the few native been replanted with 800 native to change. Rather than depend on oaks that remained. The area, grasses and trees, a newly dug raising funds to meet a high bid, once teeming with birds and other stream, and French drains to we began to seek ways to reduce wildlife, was left a cesspool of pests, the financial need, through the reduce the effects of flooding. bacteria, and horrendous stench This restoration has been generosity of our neighbors and during the summer months. The hard-won. Just six years ago, our city. Director of the 2020 impact to the environment—and when D.R. Horton turned Lake Board, Ron Mueller, partnered on home values—was devastating. with the City of Winter Garden, Cove Pointe over to its residents
18
THE POINTE FEBRUARY 2021 EDITION