Volunteers invited to celebrate
National Public Lands Day on Sept. 27
SARASOTA COUNTY – The county has thousands of acres of land available to the public for hiking, exploration, passive recreation and other activities. These lands are also home to hundreds of protected and endangered species of animals and plants.
Saturday, Sept. 27, is National Public Lands Day, and Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources staff will host a volunteer event from 9 a.m. to noon at Arlington Park, 2650 Waldemere St., Sarasota.
“This event is an excellent opportunity for volunteers to help maintain the parks’s features,” said Scott Jalwan, Parks and
Recreation Specialist and coordinator of Arlington Park.
Staff will work with volunteers to improve the park by weeding, pruning, removing nuisance exotic plants and placing and spreading mulch in the dog park.
To participate in the event, volunteers should register in advance online at www.scgov.net. Select the “Calendar” tab on the left. Select “September” from the drop down list and click “Go.” Then choose “National Public Lands Day” on Sept. 27. Space for this event is limited to 25 volunteers.
Volunteers are encouraged to bring loppers or hand pruners, work gloves, a hat, sunglasses, water, bug spray and sunscreen. Volunteers should also wear closed-toe, closed-heel shoes such as hiking boots or sneakers.
National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance America’s public lands. Last year, more than 170,000 volunteers nationwide built trails and bridges, planted trees and plants, and removed trash and invasive plants. This effort contributed an estimated $17 million to improve public lands across the country.
For more information, please contact the Sarasota County Call Center at 941-861-5000 and ask for Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources or visit www.scgov.net.
