Help us keep our parks clean, safe, and a breath of fresh air for all the people of Sarasota.

 

Check out the Worthy Cause Store - great items, great prices, and a portion of your purchase goes to the Friends!

Folks have been busier than perhaps anyone knew.

For example: On Sept. 24, the Friends will present a check for $60,767.10 to Sarasota County. The funds from vendors' fees at Phillippi Farmhouse Market over the past few years will go toward restoring the historic farmhouse.

Another Friends project getting underway involves the purchase and installation of sun screening at athletic facilities around the county, beginning with the Englewood Sports Complex. Parents of our future Cal Ripkins will be very pleased.

Meanwhile, Friends Coordinator Jodi Carroll is working on a lot of important stuff, including helping get out the word about the new county volunteer system (more about that below), and developing a new Memo of Understanding with the County.

Finally, if your Chapter has a project for which it could use a bit of money, the Friends might be able to help through our partnership with Gulf Coast Gives, a site that has already helped greatly with efforts to extend the Legacy Trail. Get in touch with Terry.

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As noted above, some new, quite impressive volunteer communication software is now live on the Sarasota County website. VOLUNTEER Sarasota County has moved to the powerful Volgistics format to organize folks who do volunteer work for the County, and Friends' members are certainly included.

What this means in practical terms is that even if you're already registered as a volunteer, you'll need to register anew. That's easily done under the "Application" tab. The application form is brief. Below it there's a healthy list of volunteer opportunities around the County. (Hint: the parks opportunities are listed under "P"). Click on opportunities of interest, then click "I Agree" at the bottom and hit "Continue." 

Once you apply, it takes a few days to process your application. Once in the system, you'll have your own account, access to info about volunteer opportunities, and tips on special events like the upcoming National Public Lands Day at Arlington Park on Sept. 27, 9 a.m. to noon.

Whatever job you apply for, you'll be contacted by a volunteer coordinator to discuss needs, tasks, times and openings.

You'll also be able to easily record your hours, even from a smart phone, and get reminders of tasks and times. 

In addition, three good things come with renewing your volunteer registration: 

Two Paw Parks get spiffed up

 

Sue Nielson of Friends of the Paw Parks shares this update:

 

With the encouragement of Friends of the Paw Parks, Sarasota County Parks and Recreation have made some very nice improvements to two of our paw parks - Arlington and Lakeview.

At Arlington, the need for shade is a prominent issue, and recently two good sized trees were planted in the middle of main park to eventually provide needed relief from the hot sun. In addition, the small dog park got its own picnic table and three new additional benches, a poop station, and a sign to let the public know that only dogs 20 lbs. and under are allowed in the small dog park. The fence all around the entire park has been cleaned, vines cleared off, and invasive species removed. Mulch has been placed along the fences to keep weeds down and improve the appearance of the park. All the changes provide a great place for dogs of all sizes to enjoy the paw park at Arlington. After a romp off leash, owners can accompany their dogs on a 6-foot leash for a walk around the rest of the City Park. It's beautiful with a paved trail which leads walkers around a small lake with a fountain, full of turtles looking for a handout at the bridge.... Sorry folks, it's best not to feed the wildlife at the park! Just enjoy watching. You can find several poop stations at points around the park - ALWAYS "Scoop that Poop" and save our Sarasota waters.

 

At Lakeview, just in the past month, a 6-foot fence was placed between the large and small dog park. This eliminates the safety issue for very small dogs due to fence jumping. The large dog park received several new picnic tables and benches, toxic plant species were removed, an abandoned building taken down, and the entry way was cemented. The small dog park received a new water source and new poop station. In the last several months, the Friends of the Paw Parks have spent at least six hours removing natural debris (fallen branches, ivy on the fence) from the park and are planning further large scale clean up days at all of the paw parks. Lakeview is especially shaded with a great variety of trees and palms, but this leads to a lot of fallen debris. One new schedule change at Lakeview Park. It will be closed on Tuesdays from 12-2 for maintenance.

We want to shout out a BIG THANK YOU to Sarasota County Parks and Recreation for all their hard work and continued dedication to the Paw Parks of Sarasota!!!!!

Please also refer to SarasotaDog.com for complete information on all the Paw Parks in Sarasota County, and watch the Friends' Facebook page for pictures and updates.

 

Some interesting volunteer opportunities coming:

National Public Lands Day at Arlington Park, Sept. 27.

Planting at the Maritime Museum in Cortez, Sept. 27.

Dragon Boat Festival at Nathan Benderson, Oct. 24-26. They need ambassadors to help visiting teams -- 100 of them -- from around the world. Attend the Ambassadors Meeting.

Volunteer Coordinator John Krotec writes:

We are having an Ambassador Recruiting Meeting on Wed., Sept. 3rd, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. in the Lakeside Room at the Meadows Community Center.

Sarasota Bay is valued at nearly $12 billion, according to a study funded by the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program.

Have you seen Sarasota County's Field Guide to Conservation Lands? You must. It's a light, lovely compilation offering maps, trails, info on places to hike and explore, divided into Northern, Central and Southern areas. 

 

 

Each of 22 lands is given an illustrated profile with background info, directions, even nearby bus stops. You'll really want the physical booklet for walks, but you can download the pdf file from the County's Natural Lands page.

 

The Audubon Florida Naturalist, the society's popular (and beautiful) conservation magazine, is downloadable for free -- get it here - you'll be glad you did. 

 

 

Coming up

• The Board of the Friends will elect new officers at its September meeting.
• The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program is celebrating National Estuaries Day on Sept. 27th with a planting at the Maritime Museum in Cortez. Details here.
• The 10th Annual IFAS Plant Sale and EdFest will be at Twin Lakes Park on Oct. 11, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Over 100 teams from 16 nations will be coming to the Dragon Boat Festival at Nathan Benderson Oct. 24-26.
• Sustainable Communities Workshop: Oct. 29th details here.
• The Sarasota Bay Water Festival returns Nov. 1 at Ken Thompson Park. Read all about it here.
• The ninth annual Sarasota Springfest is coming March 7, 2015.
• You'll find Sarasota parks' September nature events here.

Have a mellow September!