Registration required for participation
In celebration of National Public Lands Day (NPLD), members of the public are being invited to join Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department (PRNR) and University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Services (UF/IFAS) Extension Sarasota County staff for a volunteer event at Culverhouse Nature Park on Saturday, Sept. 24, the county has announced.
The hours will be 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., a news release says.
Volunteers of all ages may partner with PRNR staff to tackle weeding and pruning, remove nuisance plants, and plant native vegetation throughout the park and in the community garden, the release notes.
“NPLD is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to enhance and restore public lands across the country,” the release explains.
“Our volunteers have already devoted 83,500 hours in Fiscal Year 2022 in support of all of our park systems,” said Nicole Rissler, director of PRNR, in the release. “Their dedication helps preserve the county’s parks and natural areas and keeps these spaces healthy and beautiful for future generations to enjoy.”
Registration is required, and volunteers are encouraged to bring hand pruners, work gloves, hats, sunglasses, water, bug spray, and sunscreen, the release advises. Volunteers also should wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes, such as hiking boots or sneakers, the release adds.
Culverhouse Nature Park is located at 7301 McIntosh Road in Sarasota. It is on Palmer Ranch.
Sarasota County is home to more than 140 public parks and preserves “that offer hiking, exploration, passive recreation, and other outdoor activities,” the release points out. Further, these public lands “house hundreds of protected and endangered species of animals and plants native to Florida,” the release says.
To learn more about NPLD or PRNR volunteer opportunities, visit https://www.scgov.net (keyword: volunteer), or call the Sarasota County Contact Center at 311.