ALVA, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District invites the public to participate in a day of service at the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam South Recreation Area near Alva during National Pollinator Week, on Saturday, June 24, from 7:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. The Corps is looking for 100 or more volunteers of all ages, for any amount of time, to plant nearly 9,000 Florida native pollinator wildflowers and grasses.
“We’d like to extend a warm welcome to volunteers of all ages to help us plant Florida native wildflowers and pollinator grasses at the W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area as part of our Engineering with Nature Program, which is in its second year at this location. It’s an important effort to reforest roughly 8.5 - acres of open land to create a natural habitat.” said Greg Jones, Chief of the South Florida Operations Office in Clewiston, Florida. “We are excited about this project and what it means to the community -- to have a place to visit native Florida habitat and experience the wildlife that comes along with it. Providing educational and recreational opportunities is an important part of our overall Recreation Program.”
“We are excited to welcome volunteers from the local community to come help us plant Florida native wildflowers and grasses at the W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area,” said Megan Meyer Parsons, Natural Resource Specialist. “It’s a great opportunity to contribute to the community, especially for students needing volunteer or community service hours.”
“It’s something special to be involved in a project like this, where you can return years from now to see all your hard work grown into a beautiful natural area that provides a diverse habitat for native plants and animals, and shaded trails for local residents and visitors to enjoy,” Parsons said.
“We had a great turn out during our first planting day in September and are looking forward to another great turnout for this second and final phase of this reforestation project! The canopy trees that our volunteers planted last year have been established, and now we are working on filling in the understory with native pollinator plants,” said Parsons. “Everyone who comes out will be delighted to see butterflies and other pollinators already using some of the wildflowers that our volunteers have already planted. We will need a lot of volunteers to get nearly 9,000 plants into the ground in one day, so we hope you will join us. We will be planting native wildflowers such as Tropical Sage, Black-eyed Susan, Coreopsis, Eastern Purple Coneflower, Butterfly Milkweed, Blanket Flower, Sunshine Mimosa, and grasses like Wiregrass, Muhly Grass, and Sand Cordgrass, and many more.”
“Can you imagine how beautiful this natural area will look in the years to come, when the canopy and understory have filled in? It will be something that the volunteers will be able to feel very proud of when they come back, and maybe bring their children and grandchildren to walk together along the forested paths and enjoy many years into the future,” said Parsons. “What a wonderful legacy that will be!”
The event will be held at during National Pollinators Week, on Saturday, June 24, from 7:30 a.m. through 4 p.m. at the W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area, at 1661 S. Franklin Lock Road, Alva, Florida 33920.
Please RSVP to Natural Resources Specialist Megan Meyer Parsons at 863-840-8598, or Megan.L.Meyer@usace.army.mil.
DIRECTIONS:
NOTE: if you use navigation, please use the 1661 S. Franklin Lock Road, Alva, Florida 33920 address, which is accessed from Highway 80 on the SOUTH side of the Caloosahatchee River. The Recreation Area is not accessible from the north side of the river.
From I-75, take Exit 141 (Highway 80-Ft. Myers/LaBelle). Travel east 2.4 miles past Highway 31 to Old Olga Road. Turn left on Old Olga Road and travel 2.2 miles to the W.P. Franklin Lock Recreation Area entrance road, turn left and follow to recreation area at 1661 S. Franklin Lock Road, Alva, Florida 33920.
From LaBelle, travel west on Highway 80, 5.5 miles past the intersection with Highway 884. Turn right onto Old Olga Road, travel 0.3 miles to the W.P. Franklin Lock Recreation Area entrance road, turn right and follow to recreation area at 1661 S. Franklin Lock Road, Alva, Florida 33920.
“Last year on, on September 24, National Public Lands Day, 90 volunteers came out and planted nearly 3,000 native trees in the first phase of an effort to reforest a large open grassy field at the W.P. Franklin Recreation Area as part of our Engineering with Nature Project,” said Robert Hill, Natural Resources Specialist. “I really enjoyed getting dirty and sweaty working hands-on with the volunteers last year and can’t wait to do it again. As a Florida Gulf Coast University alumnus, it was gratifying to see so many students from FGCU and other schools volunteering and being engaged in their community. I hope that everyone who came out last year will be able to come back and see how well their hard work paid off. We were able to convert that open field to a more natural habitat, and despite Hurricane Ian, ninety percent of the first plantings survived! The area already looks great thanks to our volunteers!”
WHAT TO WEAR: Volunteers are asked to wear closed-toe shoes and clothes that are appropriate for digging and getting dirty. Please bring a pair of gloves to protect your hands if you have them. We can provide a pair of gloves if needed.
WHAT TO BRING: Make sure you wear sunscreen, a hat, and any other sun protection you may need. Bring plenty of water and a packed lunch, however water will also be provided.
WHAT TO EXPECT: Come join us for a few hours or for the full day! Tree planting will be held rain or shine. All volunteers are required to review an Activity Hazard Analysis (AHA) and sign volunteer forms prior to the event. On the day of the event, you will be assigned to a team based on which activity you will be helping with. Breaks can be taken whenever needed, and there will be access to shade tents and restrooms.
“A few years ago, the Jacksonville District’s Natural Resources Program started brainstorming ideas on how to reduce the operation and maintenance costs of recreation assets such as those at the W.P. Franklin Recreation Area,” said Nelson Colón, Natural Resources Program Manager. “This year’s effort is a continuation of Engineering with Nature initiative of planting native vegetation to reforest what used to be a very large open field, reducing the need for mowing, which in turn reduces the use of fossil fuels and saves taxpayer dollars.”
For more about the Engineering with Nature Project initiated at W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area in 2022, see: https://ewn.erdc.dren.mil/?p=8712
National Pollinator Week is June 19-25, 2023. For more information visit: https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator-week/pollinator-week-resources
Pollinator Facts (credit: Pollinator Partnership)
- Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and bats, provide 1 out of 3 bites of food we eat. Say thanks by planting native plants, supporting local farmers, and educating others about the importance of pollinators.
- About 75% of all flowering plant species need animal pollinators for reproduction. As a result, pollinators contribute to ecosystem health and a sustainable food supply.