Volunteers welcome to join county staff in improving areas of Lakeview Park in Sarasota
On Saturday, Sept.25, Sarasota County’s Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department (PRNR) will host a volunteer event at Lakeview Park from 8 to 11:30 a.m. in honor of National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the staff has announced.
“NPLD is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to enhance and restore public lands across the country,” a news release explains. “The county’s NPLD event invites volunteers of all ages to join PRNR staff in improving the park areas by weeding, pruning, removing invasive species, litter, and more,” the release adds.
“We pride ourselves on the beauty of our parks and natural spaces here in Sarasota County, and the continued dedication of our volunteers helps keep these spaces healthy for future generations to enjoy,” said PRNR Director Nicole Rissler in the release. “Our volunteers have already devoted 168,973 hours in Fiscal Year 2021 in support of all of our park system,” she added in the release.
Registration is required for the event, the release points out. Additionally, volunteers are encouraged to bring hand pruners, work gloves, hats, sunglasses, water, bug spray, and sunscreen. Volunteers also should wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes, such as hiking boots or sneakers, the release says.
Lakeview Park is located at 7255 Hand Road in Sarasota.
Sarasota County has more than 160 parks and preserves available to the public for hiking, exploration, passive recreation, and other outdoor activities, the release points out. “These public lands are also home to hundreds of protected and endangered species of animals and plants native to Florida,” the release notes.
To learn more about NPLD or PRNR volunteer opportunities, visit www.scgov.net (keyword: volunteer), or call the county Contact Center at 941-861-5000.