PLACIDA — The Lemon Bay Conservancy was happy to announce its purchase of the defunct 80-acre Wildflower Golf Course last week.

The conservancy paid $10,000 an acre and incurred $200,000 in debt for the acquisition, but members and other conservationists say the acquisition was worth keeping the property preserved.

“It has tremendous environmental value,” said conservancy president Jim Cooper.

The 80-acre property was first transformed into an 18-hole golf course in 1973. It was taken over and closed by GSR Capital Group, a development firm hoping to erect 27 buildings with 290 condominium units on the property.

In 2007, Charlotte County commissioners voted against a comprehensive plan amendment allowing for the proposed development project. At the time, a coalition of environmental organizations, property owner associations and Cape Haze residents banded together to oppose intensifying the Wildflower development.

“Being involved with the denial of the development, I’m very pleased to see this purchase,” said Sue Reske, a local Sierra Club projects chairwoman. Like Cooper, she said, “It will add value to the community.”

Residents in the neighboring 450 condominiums contributed 10 percent of the money raised by the conservancy to buy the property, Cooper said. As a sign of the widespread support for the acquisition, he noted how the conservancy has 238 members and saw more than 650 donors. Cooper’s hope is the conservancy can continue holding fundraisers so that the remaining debt can be retired in the upcoming year.

Jim Wade, conservancy vice president, said the next step will be to map out removal of exotic plants and enhance the existing habitat on the property. A number of community and environmental groups and individuals, such as retired Penn State University biology professor emeritus Bill Dunson, have offered assistance.

Waxwings, roosting herons, egrets, bobcats and other wildlife are known to inhabit the property now.

Besides its inherent value, the property borders the Amberjack Slough preserve and can provide additional access to that property. The tidal Lemon Lake and Lemon Creek — considered a nursery for tarpon — also will enjoy protections with the acquisition of Wildflower.

“This is something we worked hard for,” Wade said.

The conservancy was formed in 1971 to save environmentally sensitive lands, especially those bordering Lemon Bay; to provide environmental education; and to be an advocacy organization. The conservancy still schedules environmental education meetings, but since 2000 has become more active in land-acquisition efforts.

E-mail: reilly@sun-herald.com