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Island Park Needs Volunteer Tree Planters
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Published: February 2, 2008
DUNEDIN, Fla. - DUNEDIN, Fla. - How long should it take to plant 18,000 saplings in beach sand?
Volunteers participating in a beach dune protection project in Honeymoon Island State Park will find out next weekend.
From 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 9-10, park staff and volunteers will plant native greens in sand dunes newly created by the Honeymoon Island beach renourishment project, Karen Malo, a Florida Park Services specialist, said.
"This is a major planting effort at Honeymoon Island State Park and we want to make sure we have enough volunteers to plant everything in two days," she said.
Sand from Hurricane Pass was recently placed on Honeymoon Island beach. Hurricane Pass is between Honeymoon Island and Caladesi Island, to the south.
The formerly rocky, hard portion of the Honeymoon Island beach, near the cafe, is now covered with much softer beach sand.
The newly renourished area of the beach looks beautiful and should be a real surprise to parks visitors who have not yet seen it, Malo said.
The renourishment project is near completion.
Now, little native plants that can survive salt water and wind must be put into the sand as quickly as possible, Malo hopes.
The plants – sea oats, railroad vines and various grasses – will help build up the dunes and prevent the tidal and wind erosion of beach sand, she said. The native plants are crucial to create a healthy dune system and prevent erosion, according to Malo.
Malo hopes to have 125 volunteers to split into teams during the two-day planting project.
Next weekend will be a rare opportunity to participate in a beach renourishment project, Malo said. Families are encouraged to participate, but children must be at least 10 years old.
Participants are asked to bring gloves, wear sunscreen and tote water and a picnic basket for the outing.
In order to sign up for either day telephone Malo at 727-469-5942, ext. 6, e-mail her or visit the Friends of the Island Parks Web site.
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