Sarasota County projects manage invasive plants efforts with help from grant funding

Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC

 

SARASOTA COUNTY – With the help of a $75,000 grant from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), projects at Ted Sperling Park at South Lido Beach and North Jetty Park have removed 30 invasive plants and replaced them with native plants.

 

The project was made possible with a subrecipient grant through USFS and the recipient agency, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).

 

Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources (PRNR) was awarded the funding through the FDACS’ Urban and Community Forestry – Plantings, Preservation and Invasive Control grant program. The grant was facilitated by the Sarasota County Office of Financial Management.

 

“It is with gratitude to USFS that Sarasota County was awarded funds to help further the county’s commitment to invasive plant management on county-managed lands and especially within parks,” said Nicole Rissler, Director of Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources.

 

The funding supplemented the routine invasive plant management operations conducted by the PRNR team to remove mature Australian Pines from the area, which created additional open and green spaces for park users.

 

Additionally, over 32 native trees were planted, including Florida Slash Pine, Green Buttonwood, Gumbo Limbo and Seagrape trees. These trees are expected to help mitigate stormwater runoff, protect the fragile coastline, and provide shade for park visitors.

 

Sarasota County is committed to preserving its parks and natural areas, ensuring that the areas remain healthy, accessible and welcoming for the community.

 

For more information about Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources and its programs, visit SarasotaCountyParks.com.