Polk Forever

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

Florida State Wildlife Crossing Maps
The Florida Department of Transportation, Office of Environmental Management, has created an interactive Statewide Wildlife Crossing Map which allows the public to view photo galleries at crossings where cameras have been deployed.  
https://gis.fdot.gov/wildlifecrossings/.  

Swipe to learn how to find designated wildlife crossings across our state, and to view photos and videos of animal crossings.

Wildlife crossings are specially–designed structures that allow animals to safely cross roads and highways, helping to reduce vehicle collisions and habitat fragmentation. These structures include underpasses, such as tunnels or culverts beneath roadways, and overpasses, which are vegetation-covered bridges that mimic natural landscapes. When combined with fencing to guide animals toward these crossings, they significantly reduce wildlife mortality and restore habitat connectivity, ensuring that animals can move freely and safely across their environments. - Florida Wildlife Federation

Watch Building Wild Spaces, Connectivity on I-4
https://youtu.be/c3TPkSaQ4e8

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