BRADENTON BEACH – In a partnership between the Anna Maria Island Garden Club, the Scenic W.A.V.E.S. Committee and Keep Manatee Beautiful, the Bridge Street/Gulf Drive roundabout will be beautified with the planting of native greenery.
“In response to damage and landscape decline caused by recent hurricanes, flooding and storm events, the project will introduce more than 200 native, salt-tolerant and drought-resistant plants specifically selected for the challenging coastal conditions,” according to a press release issued by the three organizations
Installation of the plants will take place on Tuesday, April 28, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will be held on Friday, May 1 at 10 a.m.
The planting project is being funded by the AMI Garden Club and Keep Manatee Beautiful.
The improvements include planting ground cover and installing a “Wildlife of Anna Maria Island” educational sign at the Bridge Street beach access.
“This project represents an important investment in one of the most visible and highly traveled areas of our city,” Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said. “We are grateful to the Anna Maria Island Garden Club and Keep Manatee Beautiful for their leadership and commitment to enhancing the beauty and environmental resilience of our community.”
“The garden club is one of Manatee County’s strongest advocates for the environment and protection of our local resources, so naturally we love partnering with them,” Keep Manatee Beautiful Executive Director Jennifer Hoffman said.
Now in its 75th year, the Anna Maria Island Garden Club is committed to the beautification and preservation of Anna Maria Island. The organization promotes gardening education, supports the protection of native plants and wildlife and provides charitable and civic contributions to the community, according to the press release.
Keep Manatee Beautiful is a nonprofit organization that inspires community involvement through its commitment to making Manatee County a cleaner and more beautiful environment. Established in the spring of 1991 as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Florida Beautiful, Keep Manatee Beautiful has developed networks of volunteers who help provide grassroots solutions to littering, recycling, illegal dumping, beautification and solid waste disposal, according to the press release.
According to the city website, the Scenic W.A.V.E.S. Partnership Committee is a city-affiliated citizen advisory committee that advises the city commission on matters pertaining to the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway (SR 789/Gulf Drive) and the Waterfronts Florida Partnership Program. The committee also promotes awareness of the city’s tree canopy and advises the city commission on beautification and landscaping projects.
