Sarasota Livin'

I rode by the very cool Gillespie Park Pond Improvement several organizations were involved and there were lots of people working.

I loved seeing an event like this.

There will be a follow up event on June 9th

CITIZEN ACTION: UPSTREAM SOLUTIONS TO DOWNSTREAM POLLUTION
THE HEALTHY GULF COALITION AND GILLESPIE PARK NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION ORGANIZES A TWO-PART COMMUNITY FESTIVAL ON INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO STORMWATER POLLUTION

WHEN: 8:30am-1pm Saturday, April 28th AND 8:30am-1pm Saturday, June 9
WHERE: Gillespie Park, 1850 10th Street, Sarasota, FL 34236
WHO: Healthy Gulf Coalition, Gillespie Park Neighborhood Association

PARTNERS: Sierra Club, Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, Sarasota County Nest Program, Sarasota County Health Department PACE EH Program, Sarasota County Division of Urban Forestry, Sarasota Military Academy, SWFWMD Manasota Basin Board, Beautiful Ponds, Inc., Natures Way Aquatic Farm, Florida Native Plants, Inc., Garden Sol, Keep Sarasota County Beautiful

Sarasota, FL - The Healthy Gulf Coalition , with a grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District Manasota Basin Board, is leading the
effort to beautify and revive stormwater retention ponds in Southwest Florida. In collaboration with the Gillespie Park Neighborhood Association, dedicated members of citizens groups, government agencies, coastal businesses and environmental organizations will gather at Gillespie Park to plant the seeds of a healthier and more vibrant future for Florida's waterways.

This is a two part event with pond prep, community education and upland plantings this Saturday April 28 from 8:30am to 1pm. Citizens, media and community organizations are invited to come out and learn about the project, the benefits to the watershed and help plant upland plants, including 25 trees, along the banks of the pond. Participating organizations will have informational booths with literature on how to protect our waterways from the dangers of harmful pollution through improved landscape design and maintenance. Raffle and sale of Native Plants, Gifts and Native Plant Book are also available.

More fun and dirty work will happen on Saturday June 9 from 8:30am until 1pm when the general public and volunteers will have the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and pant legs to plant a pond in order to protect our precious water resources. Volunteers will plant 1000 native aquatic plants and 200 shoreline plants in the pond! This is a fun and hands-on way for youth and adults alike to learn about how aquatic plants help clean our waterways and make a difference for Sarasota Bay and their community at the same time!

Citizens or businesses who are interested in participating in either event are encouraged to contact Don Chaney with the Healthy Gulf Coalition (941)
906-8176 or Rob Wright with Sarasota County NEST (941) 861-0929 to register.

For more information on these events or how to organize a stormwater pollution prevention project in your neighborhood please contact: Don Chaney with the Healthy Gulf Coalition (941) 906-8176 or Rob Wright with Sarasota County NEST (941) 861-0929