Presentation made during Florida Recreation and Park Association conference in Orlando
The Florida Recreation and Park Association (FRPA) has honored Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department (PRNR) with the 2025 Voluntary Service Group Award “in recognition of outstanding volunteer contributions,” county staff has announced.
The award was presented to PRNR’s Friends of Lemon Bay Park volunteer group on Aug. 27 during the FRPA annual conference in Orlando, a news release says. That marked “the sixth time in seven years that Sarasota County volunteer groups have earned the award,” the release points out.
Since 2011, the Friends of Lemon Bay Park has supported PRNR “through habitat restoration, public outreach and community involvement,” the release explains. “Made up of 27 active members, most of them retired professionals, the volunteer group has contributed more than 4,600 hours since 2022 to trail maintenance, invasive species removal, habitat restoration and hurricane recovery,” the release adds.
“Their work following five major storms, including removing more than 50,000 pounds of debris, helped protect sensitive habitats and preserve one of the county’s longest stretches of mangrove shoreline,” the release notes. “These efforts restored public access and allowed school groups and environmental programs to return.”
The release further points out, “In addition to restoration work, the group leads educational programs such as guided nature walks and cultural workshops and partners with UF/IFAS [University of Florida/Food and Agricultural Sciences] Extension, Big Waters Land Trust and Florida Sea Grant to strengthen regional conservation efforts. Their efforts extend PRNR staff capacity and ensure Lemon Bay Park remains a community asset.”
“This award recognizes the Friends of Lemon Bay Park volunteers as a vital part of our parks system and our community through their commitment to environmental stewardship and civic engagement,” said Nicole Rissler, director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources, in the release. “We are truly grateful for their legacy of service and continued dedication.”
The release explains, “The FRPA annually honors park and recreation agencies, employees, volunteers and partners who make an impact in their communities. More information is available at frpa.org.
For more information or to register as a PRNR volunteer, contact Brenda Canales, volunteer coordinator, at 941-861-5868 or visit bit.ly/parksvolunteersrq.