Earth Day at The Bay unites community in support of the environment

By Ian Swaby
| 9:30 a.m. April 21, 2024

Asher Ripley, 6, assembles plants to create a sun print at Suncoast Waterkeeper.

Sarasota
Neighbors

Kids weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty during Earth Day at The Bay on April 20, bringing up millipedes from the soil.

“I did not expect the kids to like it so much,” said Alex Thompson of Sunshine Community Compost, which offered the digging activity. “It just shows how soil is so naturally attractive to everyone.”

There was also quite a bit more to dig into, however.

“We're trying to enable people with tools and inspiration to help them to reduce their footprint in whatever way they can, and we think having fun is part of that,” said Diana Shaheen, director of park guest experience.

Other activities at the event included a giveaway of 50 trees by the city of Sarasota and the city of Sarasota Earth Day Celebration Tabling Event, which allowed the community to engage with other environmentally focused nonprofits in the area.

Meanwhile, Suncoast Remake Learning Days offered stations hosted by various Sarasota nonprofits, including the Sarasota Butterfly Club, Art Center Sarasota, First Thousand Days, Southface Sarasota and others.

"This is awesome. It’s literally one of the best events put on by The Bay Park,” said Vlad Ladchuk. “The fact that they’re offering free trees is amazing.”

Jeff Vredenbrurg, sustainability manager with the city of Sarasota, agreed.

“What better place to have an event like this than the jewel of the city and 53 acres that really centers on the environment?” he said.

Kalyn Ennis of Sarasota County packages a free tree.

Frances Bermudez, activation and program manager at The Bay Park, performs yoga moves behind Elif Pektas, 8.

Leo McHugh, 2, the son of instructor Jessica McHugh of Wholehearted Education, waves his cloth through the air.

Janeli Griffith, 8, finds a millipede in the soil at Sunshine Community Compost.

Isabella Pajevic watches as Vlad Ladchuk tries the spinner at Crystal Clean Green Cleaning.

Niavy Griffith, 8, an Ashton Elementary student, takes a turn with the microphone to deliver a speech she wrote urging change to how people treat the environment.

Samantha Wassmer of Suncoast Waterkeeper holds up a finished sun print for Kellen Roth, 10.

Griffin Miller, 6, and his brother Asher Miller, 4, create nature impressions in clay with Art Center Sarasota.

Lina Maldonado learns about the Plant Based Treaty from Malaina Watts.

Kinjal Bhakoo and Sid Bhakoo, 4, meet up with Ari Bhakoo, 7 and Amit Bhakoo for some family time on the water.

Free trees from the City of Sarasota stand ready for collection.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.