BRADENTON BEACH – The city’s Scenic Waves Partnership Committee held a ribbon-cutting on Jan. 24 to showcase the first installation of “Wildlife of Anna Maria Island” signs on the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway. The ceremony was held at John Chappie Park at 1400 Gulf Drive N.
The Scenic Waves Partnership Committee was awarded a $5,000 Tampa Bay Estuary Program mini-grant for the design and manufacturing of two of six wildlife educational signs to be installed at public parks along the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway. The signs teach ways to protect wildlife and their habitats.
According to a press release from Scenic Waves, “The sign design was done by Drawn by Dawn Witherington Illustration & Design. Each sign is 60″ x 24” high-pressure laminate CHPL and was installed atop aluminum posts by the Bradenton Beach Public Works Department staff. The sign design and content were reviewed for scientific accuracy by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, as well as Wildlife Inc.”
Keep Manatee Beautiful has provided 68 color prints of the “Wildlife of Anna Maria Island” sign and 68 thumb drives with information about the wildlife to Manatee County’s public schools, private schools and community centers.
“Scenic Waves members are obtaining feedback through surveys from the public where the signs have been placed, both before and after the signs were installed,” according to the press release. “The surveys ask the public to identify seven animals in the bays and Gulf of Mexico around Anna Maria Island, two reasons why our shorelines are important for wildlife and two ways to help protect the wildlife. A summary of the results will be provided to the Tampa Bay Estuary Program.”
