Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area

Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area is an area of wilderness conservation lands southeast of Orlando, Florida. It straddles the border between Orange County[1] and Osceola County[2] and is managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which has been granted a conservation easement over the property by the two counties.[3]

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's management plan for Split Oak Forest is "to restore and maintain the habitats critical to the long-term benefit of state and federally listed upland species, particularly the gopher tortoise."[4]

Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area
LocationOrange County, Florida
Osceola County, Florida
Nearest cityOrlando, Florida
Coordinates28°21′38″N 81°12′42″W / 28.360668°N 81.211597°W / 28.360668; -81.211597
Area1,689 Acres
Governing bodyFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The wilderness area includes prairie and scrub habitat, including sandhill terrain, and is home to gopher tortoises, sandhill cranes, eastern indigo snakes, fox squirrels, butterflies, woodpeckers, kestrels, various songbirds,[5] and some rare plant species.

There are trails throughout the wilderness area for visitors.[1][6] The wilderness area trails are accessible via both Moss Park and Clapp Simms Duda Road.[1][2][7] The wilderness area is adjacent to Eagles Roost Park, home of the Back to Nature wildlife refuge.[8][9][10]

Toll Road Proposal

A parkway extension project across the southern portion of the forest is proposed to provide vehicular access to an area of new development.[11][12][13] Groups such as the Friends of Split Oak Forest and Save Split Oak have formed to advocate protecting the area from the intrusion of the road.[14][15][16] A conservation land swap is proposed to mitigate impact from the road[9][13][17] and this plan has received support from county commissioners and Charles Lee of the Florida Audubon Society. The Orlando Sentinel editorial board supports the road project with planned mitigation.[18]

A proposed Osceola Parkway extension is planned through the southern part of the preserve.[19][20][21] The road project is one of many including new toll roads being proposed through largely undeveloped areas during Governor Ron DeSantis' tenure.[22][23][24]

In 2020, Orange County voters approved a charter amendment restricting Split Oak Forest to conservation purposes and limiting the county commission's authority to alter those protections.[25] The measure was prompted by the plans to route the Osceola Parkway Extension through part of the preserve, despite earlier conservation commitments.[9][25][26] Osceola County challenged the amendment in court, contending that it misled voters and improperly obstructed a transportation project, while advocates argued it reflected public opposition to development within the forest and sought to ensure its long-term preservation.[26][27]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Split Oak Forest". www.orangecountyfl.net. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area". www.osceola.org. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  3. ^ "Split Oak Forest—Habitat and Management". Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  4. ^ "Split Oak Forest—History". Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  5. ^ "Split Oak Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area". Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
  6. ^ "Things to Do". Florida Fish And Wildlife Conservation Commission. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  7. ^ "OCPR-MAP07 Moss Park Map" (PDF). Orange County, FL. October 31, 2024.
  8. ^ "Pictures: Scenes from Eagles Roost Park, eyed by CFX for toll road". Orlando Sentinel. August 15, 2025. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  9. ^ a b c Duerig, Molly (March 9, 2026). "Expressway authority files claim to Orange County conservation land". Central Florida Public Media. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  10. ^ "Location - Back to Nature Wildlife Refuge". January 23, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  11. ^ "CFX to host meetings on toll road proposal through Split Oak Forest". mynews13.com. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  12. ^ "FWC discusses future of proposed Split Oak Forest toll road project". mynews13.com. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  13. ^ a b Spear, Kevin (May 10, 2022). "Split Oak Forest could get $13M from toll road authority to care for land". Orlando Sentinel.
  14. ^ Pittman, Craig (April 14, 2022). "Plan for new Central Florida toll road would split Split Oak Forest, a treasured park". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  15. ^ Rodriguez, Stephanie (April 13, 2026). "Fight over toll road through Split Oak Forest continues as activists keep voicing concerns". WKMG. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  16. ^ County, Sasha Teman Orange. "Orange County commissioner wants closer look at Split Oak Forest toll road plan". mynews13.com. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  17. ^ Duerig, Molly (May 6, 2024). "Why the Florida Wildlife Corridor couldn't save Split Oak Forest". Central Florida Public Media. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  18. ^ Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board (November 21, 2019). "Split Oak highway compromise is about as good as it'll get — take the deal". Orlando Sentinel (Editorial).
  19. ^ Powers, Scott (November 18, 2019). "Osceola Parkway preferred route to cut through southern end of Split Oak Forest". Florida Politics. Extensive Enterprises Media.
  20. ^ Powers, Scott (November 18, 2019). "Osceola Parkway and Split Oak road recommendations to be revealed". Florida Politics. Extensive Enterprises Media.
  21. ^ Spear, Kevin (October 31, 2019). "Split Oak controversy over expressway route re-emerges with tough choices". Orlando Sentinel.
  22. ^ Cassels, Laura (July 1, 2020). "Controversial toll road project funding is still intact amid $1 billion in state budget cuts • Florida Phoenix". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  23. ^ Russon, Gabrielle (April 7, 2023). "Gov. DeSantis threatens toll roads, development in his ongoing Disney feud". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  24. ^ Brasileiro, Adriana (September 22, 2021). "Florida Cabinet, DeSantis clear way for Miami-Dade's highway through Everglades wetlands". Miami Herald.
  25. ^ a b Powers, Scott (May 9, 2020). "Orange Co. voters to vote on charter amendment for Split Oak preservation". Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  26. ^ a b Webb, Ashlyn; WFTV.com (February 20, 2024). "Orange, Osceola battle over future of Split Oak Forest in court". WFTV. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
  27. ^ Guaderrama, Robert (November 9, 2020). "Osceola County sues Orange County over Split Oak Forest ballot amendment". FOX 35 Orlando. Retrieved June 9, 2026.
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