Kitson named TIME Dreamer of the Year
The vision of protecting, restoring, and championing dreams while inspiring others has earned the founder of Babcock Ranch recognition as the 2023 Time “Dreamer of the Year.”
“It is a tremendous honor to be named as the 2023 TIME ‘Dreamer of the Year,’ and to inspire other visionaries to pursue their dreams until they become a world-changing reality,” said Syd Kitson, chairman/CEO of Kitson & Partners and developer of Babcock Ranch. “This recognition underscores my vision that creating a model for resilient, sustainable development is possible, and I am proud to serve as an inspiration for communities around the world seeking to make a positive impact on the planet.”
When Kitson retired from the NFL, he began his next career in real estate. In 1999 he founded Kitson & Partners and purchased the acreage that has become Babcock Ranch in 2006.
FINN Partners Account Coordinator Rachel Sadler said TIME collaborated with American Family Insurance to establish an additional category during TIME’s Person of the Year celebration. Dreamer of the Year recognizes a person who “inspires, protects, and restores dreams in order to close equity gaps.”
“The Dreamer of the Year is someone who reimagines what’s possible and builds stronger communities, for today and tomorrow,” American Family Insurance Group CEO Bill Westrate said in a prepared statement. “Supporting dreamers who make a difference in our world directly aligns with our mission at American Family Insurance of inspiring, protecting, and restoring dreams. Syd Kitson has created something unique and special at Babcock Ranch — a resilient community that is designed to overcome what Mother Nature throws at them. We’re proud to partner with Syd and learn together as American Family continues to protect and restore communities that are at greater risk due to rising climate impacts.”
American Family Insurance worked with TIME’s Red Border Studio to create a digital film and television spot highlighting the honoree’s contributions and vision.
Babcock Ranch received international acclaim and interest in its innovative design and resilience after minimal damage and no loss of power after Hurricane Ian’s wake through Southwest Florida.
“My vision for Babcock Ranch was born out of a true passion for the environment, and an aspiration to leave the earth better today for our future generations,” Kitson said. “As a developer, I believe I have a responsibility to lessen the impact to the environment. This belief is the driving force behind Babcock Ranch and our eight core initiatives — the environment, health, education, energy, technology, transportation, storm safety and recreation. From a walkable neighborhood design to a trail system that will expand 100-plus miles through preserved ecosystems, there are endless ways for Babcock Ranch residents to connect with each other and the environment. These initiatives build upon our careful stewardship of the land and surrounding preservation areas and serve as a roadmap of how development and the environment can work hand-in-hand.”
He said after the 91,000-acre parcel was purchased, they sold back 73,000 acres in the largest preservation land purchase in state history.
“Fifty percent of Babcock Ranch’s footprint is set aside for green spaces ensuring that 90% of the original ranch is preserved,” Kitson said.
When they developed Babcock Ranch, they set out to create the most resilient community in Florida, he added.
“Starting with a thorough understanding of the land, we located development areas with minimal environmental impact. By looking at maps from the 1940s, we studied the natural flow ways to ensure our development worked with mother nature, not against her,” Kitson said. “Babcock Ranch was thoughtfully designed to include sustainability, preservation and restoration as key design features, and environmental investments are just one of the ways we have designed our town to preserve and protect our future for generations to come.”
Now with a thriving community, he is proud of many things made possible at Babcock Ranch.
“Perhaps one of the most important ones is our partnership with Florida Power & Light, which allowed Babcock Ranch to be the first solar-powered town in America that produces energy at a utility scale and generates more renewable energy than it will ever consume, through an 840-acre, 150MW solar facility,” Kitson said.
FPL is currently testing battery-storage technology to further enhance the reliability of solar power, he said.
“We are constructing a solar education center to give the community an interactive educational experience with solar energy. With preservation and restoration at the heart of Babcock Ranch, we have created a model for eco-friendly with 90% of the original ranch in preservation forever.
“I had no road map to follow when I set out to create Babcock Ranch, but I am proud that our community proves that clean energy and sustainability can be the future of development around the world,” Kitson said.
With Babcock Ranch being a living laboratory of innovators collaborating to test and refine sustainable solutions, it continues to shape the future of eco-friendly living.
“Innovation Way 2.0, a second beta-neighborhood testing innovations to create the most energy-efficient, water-preserving and health-forward homes on the market, will explore sustainable materials and 3D-printed homes and panels. We are also planning for our own Kitson & Partners corporate building, with the goal to make it carbon neutral,” Kitson said.
In addition, MidTown was recently unveiled – the next phase of the growth designed around Florida’s unique environment.
“Built along wetlands and nature preserves, MidTown will give our community a new way to connect with the environment, with six new neighborhoods and a 3.5 mile stretch of green space integrating six new parks into our existing trail system,” Kitson said.