Nearly $1M of Environmental Restoration Projects Underway at Public Park in Bradenton

Nearly $1M of Environmental Restoration Projects Underway at Public Park in Bradenton

BRADENTON, FL (August 27, 2024) – GT Bray Park in Bradenton, FL hosts two new, large-scale environmental restoration projects costing a total of $900,000. Both projects retrofit substantial stormwater treatment areas to optimize their benefits to the public, water, and wildlife.

At the western portion of the park, 130,000 cubic yards of dirt were excavated and invasive plant species were removed from a stream conveyance to make way for created wetlands. Native wetland and upland plants are currently being installed to stabilize the banks and provide wetland habitats for aquatic birds and wildlife. The project is slated to be fully completed within the next month.  “GT Bray Park is a fantastic place to view wildlife. Last year, I saw a family of otters playing in the stream adjacent to the project site,” said Megan Barry, Public Outreach Manager for the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP).

The second site, bordering 59th Street West, is complete and features a large stormwater pond previously inundated with invasive aquatic and terrestrial vegetation. The clearing of undesirable species, and planting of over $100,000 worth of native plants, has made the pond more aesthetically pleasing, publicly accessible, and environmentally sound. Both projects were led by SBEP in partnership with Manatee County, the City of Bradenton, and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Together, the sites mark the third large-scale restoration project completed by SBEP via funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Seven more projects are slated to be completed by 2026. “The SBEP is using all of the funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to undertake a variety of large-scale restoration projects to benefit Sarasota Bay habitats and water quality,” said outgoing Staff Biologist Dr. Jay Leverone.

A ribbon-cutting event will be hosted at GT Bray Park on Thursday, September 19 to celebrate the new projects. The event will include remarks from local elected officials and partner agencies including Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, City of Bradenton Councilwoman Jayne Kocher, and EPA Chief of the Ocean, Wetlands & Streams Protection Branch, Thomas McGill. The event is open to the public and will begin at 9:30 AM under the park pavilions adjacent to 51st Street West. “The EPA is pleased to support continuing efforts of the SBEP to preserve and protect critical water resources in Manatee and Sarasota Counties,” said Becky Allenbach, Senior Advisor for Everglades and South Florida Issues and SBEP Policy Board Co-chair at U.S. EPA.

Wetland Site Photos

(Above) BEFORE: GT Bray created wetlands site. Image by SBEP

(Above) AFTER: GT Bray created wetlands site. Image by SBEP

(Above) ARTIST RENDERING OF MATURE SITE: GT Bray created wetlands site. Image by SBEP

Pond Site Photos

(Above) BEFORE: GT Bray pond site. Image by SBEP

(Above) AFTER: GT Bray pond site. Image by SBEP

### For more information, please contact Megan Barry with the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program at               941-955-8085 or [email protected]. About the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program: The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program is a cooperative partnership among communities, researchers, and governments that strives to improve the health of Sarasota Bay and enhance the area’s natural resources for public benefit. Learn more at www.sarasotabay.org