Former Coral Springs Mayor Roy Gold to lead free guided nature tour of Sandy Ridge Sanctuary on May 2 for residents and guests
Coral Springs, Florida – Residents looking for a quiet morning outdoors and a closer look at local environmental history will have an opportunity this weekend as former Mayor Roy Gold prepares to lead a guided tour of Sandy Ridge Sanctuary on Saturday, May 2.
The free monthly tour begins at 9 a.m. and invites residents and guests to explore one of Coral Springs’ most environmentally significant green spaces. Gold, who played a key role in preserving the land decades ago, will personally guide participants through the 38-acre sanctuary, sharing stories about how the park came to be and why it still matters today.
The walk-through is expected to last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and a half, depending on the group’s pace, interest level, and ability. The experience is designed to be flexible, allowing visitors to take in both the natural surroundings and the history behind the preserve without feeling rushed.
Located at 8501 NW 40th Street, Sandy Ridge Sanctuary is known for its winding trail system, quiet wooded areas, and distinctive mix of wetland and upland habitats. Visitors can expect to see a large bog area, along with a man-made lake that was created by the city and is now stocked with fish.
Beyond its scenic value, the sanctuary plays an important ecological role in the region. It is officially registered as a gopher tortoise preserve and follows strict state guidelines for protection and maintenance. Over the years, the city has relocated gopher tortoises to the site after development displaced them from other natural habitats, helping to maintain a stable population in a protected environment.
The land also supports a variety of native Florida plant species. Florida slash pines, oak trees, and bald cypress trees are among the most visible features throughout the sanctuary, creating a landscape that reflects what much of South Florida looked like before rapid urban expansion.
For Gold, the sanctuary is more than just a park — it is the result of a long effort to protect natural land from development. He first brought the idea of preserving environmentally sensitive areas to the public in the early 1990s, at a time when Coral Springs was undergoing rapid growth and land was quickly being converted into residential projects.
That effort eventually led to a citizen-driven initiative and the creation of a $7.5 million environmentally sensitive land bond. Combined with an additional $2.5 million in state grant funding, the city was able to secure $10 million to purchase several key parcels of land for preservation.
Those purchases included Sandy Ridge Sanctuary as well as Red Lichen Sanctuary, Pine Flats Preserve, and Cypress Gateway. Officials say the initiative helped permanently protect important natural spaces that might otherwise have been developed.
Before the bond was approved in 1994, the land that now makes up Sandy Ridge was originally slated for a large housing development of 195 zero-lot homes. The property was owned by Charlie Bosco, an orchid grower known for inventing the wrist corsage design that became widely popular.
Today, instead of residential streets and homes, the site serves as a protected natural refuge within the city, offering residents a rare glimpse of preserved Florida ecosystems.
The guided tours, which take place on the first Saturday of every month at 9 a.m., are organized by Gold in partnership with the City of Coral Springs Parks and Recreation Department. They continue to draw residents interested in local history, conservation, and outdoor exploration.
For those interested in attending or volunteering with future tours, information is available by contacting Louis Goldstein at 954-345-2112.
