At the entrance of Black Lake Preserve, Alachua County Commission chair Ken Cornell cut a luscious green vine stretched across the trail to signify the park’s opening Friday morning.
Located south of Lake Santa Fe in Melrose, Black Lake Preserve is a 287-acre nature preserve. It offers a 500-foot paved path and opportunities for hiking, including a 1-mile loop and a 2-mile trail.
Roughly 40 residents gathered at the preserve’s entrance Friday morning, eager to walk the trails for the first time. But before the vine cutting, attendees honored the preserve’s origin…