Parkland Earns Re-Certification As a Gold Signature Sanctuary

BOCA RATON, Fla. - June 11, 2015 - PRLog -- Troy, NY – The Parkland golf course in Parkland, Florida has been re-certified as an Audubon International Gold Signature Sanctuary, after a recent site visit by Signature Program Director Nancy Richardson.  Parkland was registered in the Signature Program in 2001 and certified in 2011.

Signature Program certified members must implement and follow a site-specific Natural Resource Management Plan (NRMP) that addresses wildlife conservation and habitat enhancement, water quality monitoring and management, integrated pest management, water conservation, energy efficiency, waste reduction and management, and green building products and procedures.  This re-certification review included a hole by hole look at drainage, irrigation patterns,  vegetative buffers, littoral shelves, filtration, wildlife corridors, and the maintenance facility.

Environmental highlights of the project include:

·         Filtration Sumps.  All fairway and greens drainage was routed through filtration sumps using Audubon International’s design to filter any runoff before that drainage can enter any water.  With this Best Management Practice in place, water quality is protected.

·         Water Monitoring.  A water quality-monitoring program ensures that ground and surfaces waters are not degraded from long-term use of the property.

·         Landscaping – Xeriscaping, the use of drought tolerant plants to reduce or eliminate additional watering, has been implemented throughout the property to promote efficient irrigation practices and reduce maintenance.

·         Native Plant Species.  The use of native plant species was implemented to reduce the amount of water and fertilizers used since the plants are already acclimated to the locale.

·         Invasive Removal.  Much time was spent removing invasive exotic plants particularly the Brazilian Pepper which is rampant in parts of Florida.

·         Management zones.  A no-spray zone of 25 feet is maintained around all water bodies and wetlands to provide filtration from runoff from the golf course.

·         Habitat. Nearly 30 acres of habitat have been planted at Parkland much as mitigation areas around the lakes and more specifically in areas such as Hole #3’s  natural cypress wetland areas,  mitigation area #1 near #15 tees, and  mitigation and upland areas on Hole #1.

Discussions with new Director of Agronomy Jason Bailey focused around the projects that he is planning for the next year and how best to implement sustainable management techniques.   This includes the addition of littoral plants around the lakes on the golf course and the addition of at least one honeybee hive.  Pollinators is a passion of Jason’s as is bird watching.

‘It was a pleasure reviewing the property with Jason and hearing what he has in store for the golf course this summer”, said Ms. Richardson.  “Jason is an avid birder and we were able to spot 38 species of birds including limpkins and a purple gallinule during the day plus river otters, alligators and Basilisk lizard.   This property is a real bird sanctuary and I can’t wait to come back for the next visit to add to that wildlife list.”

Audubon International congratulates Parkland on the re-certification as a Gold Signature Sanctuary.

About Parkland Golf & Country Club

Parkland Golf & Country Club is a 790-acre gated community southwest of Boca Raton, Florida highlighted by a Greg Norman 18–hole championship golf course.  Formerly an old tomato farm, this Broward County course was only the second course in South Florida to feature seashore paspalum turfgrass.  The property consists of a northeastern and a southwestern parcel, both more or less square in shape, and connected on a diagonal at their adjacent corners.  The eastern half of the southwestern parcel shows some semblance of a mixture of pine uplands and largely cypress wetlands.

About Audubon International

Audubon International is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) environmental education organization dedicated to providing people with the education and assistance they need to practice responsible management of land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources. To meet this mission, the organization provides training, services, and a set of award-winning environmental education and certification programs for individuals, organizations, properties, new developments, and entire communities. The Signature Program premiered in 1993 and is focused on promoting sound land management practices and appropriate land use changes based on sound scientific research. Signature Sanctuaries are currently located in 29 U.S. states and in Canada, Puerto Rico, China, Portugal, and Spain.