Project: Saving public access to white sand beach by purchasing pine covered upland between beach and county road. Hero Organization: Trust for Public Land Seeing it: Bald Point is now part of Ochlockonee River State Park (850) 962-2771. This portion of the park is noted for its excellent wildlife viewing, fishing, and beach bum opportunities. To get there, take U.S. 98 south from Tallahassee or east from Apalachicola. Turn east on Country Road 370, then follow that to Bald Point Road. Stay on the road until you enter the gate. The park is open from sunrise to sunset.

Don Morrow of the Trust for Public Land has known Bald Point since the late 70s."It was informal park — a very popular place until the developer fenced it off half a dozen years ago."

"When the state's plans to re-establish public access to Bald Point were in danger, the Trust for Public Land stepped in to save it," said Don Morrow, project manager for TPL. "Without access through the uplands there was no way for people to get to the coast."

When land becomes available, nonprofits are usually able to act more quickly than government. Typically, a non-profit land trust organization will buy the land, sometimes at a reduced price, and eventually transfer the land to the public, i.e. the government. The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a nationwide organization that makes more of these deals than any other organization. TPL was the hero for Bald Point.

The Trust for Public Land was responsible for the transfer of ownership of 1,348 acres of Bald Point to state. The purchase was acquired through the Department of Environmental Protection's Conservation and Recreation Lands (CARL) program. The site is now official open to the public as part of Ochlockonee River State Park.

Move on to Ice Age Trail