Volunteers Plant 5,000 Sea Oats Seedlings in St. Pete Beach

ST. PETE BEACH, FL - Over 150 volunteers arrived in Pass-a-Grille in the early hours of June 26, 2010 and successfully planted 5,000 sea oats seedlings in the sand dunes between 15th and 22nd Avenues in Pass-a-Grille.

This was the 2nd annual Sea Oats Planting Event organized by the Beach Stewardship Committee of St. Pete Beach.  The sea oats seedlings were donated by Pinellas County and were planted as part of a multi-faceted beach erosion prevention program that utilizes both natural and structural methods to preserve the city's beaches and prevent beach erosion.

As chairman of the Beach Stewardship Committee, I was very pleased with this year's turnout, especially since the vastly popular Hands Across the Sand demonstration was scheduled to occur starting at 11:00 a.m. later that morning.  It was wonderful to see folks who had participated in last year's sea oats planting event, as well as many new faces.

It was also great to receive such wonderful support from our local business community.  The Tradewinds, Sirata and Alden resorts donated bottled water and energy bars for the volunteers, and Bruno Falkenstein from the Hurricane used his shiny new TurtleMobile to help deliver water and supplies to the volunteers on the beach.  Many thanks also to Cleo Robertson (fellow Beach Stewardship Committee member and owner of St. Pete Beach Today website) and the folks at Tampa BayWatch for helping to get word of our event out to the general public.

It's always great to see our city commissioners lending a hand, including SPB District 1 Commissioner Alan Halpern (on the right)...

...SPB District 3 Commissioner Marvin Shavlan...

...District 4 Commissioner Bev Garnett (on the left, with Gene Halpern on the right)

... and fellow Beach Stewardship Committee member and local businessman Marcus Lehtovirta.
 

The St. Pete Beach Fire Department also helped out by providing much-needed water to the freshly-planted sea oats seedlings.

Of course, some of the event organizers couldn't help trying to play with the fire engine controls....(the St. Pete Beach Fire Department personnel were VERY patient!)

Most important, the success of these sea oats planting events could not happen without the skill and dedication of St. Pete Beach Public Works Director Steve Hallock (right) and his staff.  These guys are the City's unsung heroes, and they do an amazing job at at time when the City's budget is shrinking with each passing year.

Thanks again to everyone who helped to make this year's event such a success!  

Photos by Andrea Lypka and Kevin Hing.  (You can tell the ones taken by Andrea...they are the ones that are in focus)