The PARC Group Honored with Environmental Excellance Award

October 16th, 2007

The PARC Group, Inc., long-time Northeast Florida developer and master developer for the Town of Nocatee, was recently recognized for Excellence in Environmental Stewardship at the Northeast Florida Regional Council’s 2007 Regional Leadership Awards ceremony.

The annual Regional Leadership Awards recognize excellence in a variety of critical areas and are held annually by the Northeast Florida Regional Council. This year, Nocatee took home top honors for setting the benchmark for an environmentally-conscious development in Northeast Florida. Nocatee’s protection of the vast forests, streams, marshes and wildlife habitat is evident given that more than sixty percent of the Nocatee land will be preserved providing safe havens and migratory passageways for birds and animals. Additional development standards have been implemented to ensure that Nocatee remains environmentally friendly in the future including reclaimed irrigation water, storm water treatment ponds, slow-release fertilizers and planned prescribed burnings.

“We are honored to be recognized by the Northeast Florida Regional Council. Our commitment has been sustainability and smart growth and, in turn, the Nocatee lifestyle is one that emphasizes conservation and preservation of the natural environment,” said Richard T. Ray, a partner with The PARC Group.

Nearly 9,000 acres within Nocatee have been reserved for the preservation of the natural environment, which includes 2,400 acres in the Nocatee Preserve, 300 acres of community and neighborhood parks and 5,000 acres within the Nocatee Greenway. The Nocatee Greenway will offer residents the opportunity to travel throughout Nocatee on a trail system encouraging the use of green spaces as an alternative to roadway travel throughout the community.

The mission of the Northeast Florida Regional Council is to provide visionary leadership and coordination between counties and governmental agencies to preserve and enhance the quality of Northeast Florida’s natural, man-made, economic, and social environment. This year marks the fifth year of the Council’s annual Regional Leadership Awards.

The Town of Nocatee is a master-planned “new town” that will provide a wide variety of residential lifestyles, employment opportunities, shopping, schools, civic uses and recreation.