Volunteers invited to participate in event at Celery Fields on Sept. 22 in recognition of National Public Lands Day

County staff members to work alongside the public in weeding, pruning and other activities

This is one of the marshes on the Celery Fields property. File photo

The Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department (PRNR) will host a volunteer event at the Celery Fields Regional Stormwater Facility from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 22, in honor of National Public Lands Day, the county has announced.
The event will pair PRNR staff members with volunteers from across the county “to improve the park by weeding, pruning, removing invasive species, litter and more,” a news release says.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring hand pruners, work gloves, hat, sunglasses, water, bug spray and sunscreen, the release notes. “Volunteers should also wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes such as hiking boots or sneakers.” The release points out.

“National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance America’s public lands,” the release explains.

Each year, nearly 200,000 participants volunteer at more than 2,500 sites, “coming together to accomplish the mission of caring for public lands,” the release says. “It is estimated these annual efforts generate more than $18 million worth of improvements to public lands.”

Sarasota County has thousands of acres of land available to the public for hiking, exploration, passive recreation and other activities, the release adds. “These lands are also home to hundreds of protected and endangered species of animals and plants.”

The Celery Fields Regional Stormwater Facility is located at 6893 Palmer Blvd. in Sarasota.

For more information, or to register as a volunteer, call the county Contact Center at 861-5000 or visit www.scgov.net.