Sarasota County Neighborhood Grant Program
How Sarasota County Neighborhood Grant Program has made a difference in our Community
The Neighborhood Grant Program (NGP) is one of the strategic initiatives adopted by the Sarasota County Commission to help residents enhance their neighborhood. Neighborhood Services offers grants to neighborhoods that are willing to match funding through cash, in-kind donations, professional labor or volunteer hours.
Mission Estates has applied for and received three neighborhood grants for two major projects. Our projects were centered around water quality improvement, shoreline restoration and improving the environment through the use of Florida Yard and Neighborhood principles. Our projects are described below.
Mission Estates has applied for and received three neighborhood grants for two major projects. Our projects were centered around water quality improvement, shoreline restoration and improving the environment through the use of Florida Yard and Neighborhood principles. Our projects are described below.
Creation of a New Wildlife Habitat
Mission Estates was approved for a fourth Neighborhood Grant in June 2017 to create a new wildlife habitat. Our goal was to improve the environment by creating a "new" wildlife habitat, using native Florida vegetation, for wildlife that may have been displaced by urban development. The habitat will be situated adjacent to an existing wetland thereby creating a natural "corridor" for wildlife. Our plans to have a "grand opening" will help to educate our residents as to why particular plant species were selected for this project. Using a variety of native plant species will help to attract and provide food for a wide variety of wildlife such as birds, hummingbirds, butterflies and bees.
To create community support for this project we created an ad-hoc committee of residents who showed interest in supporting the project. The committee members spoke to representatives from Sarasota County and various contractors. The committee members helped to develop a design plan for the habitat and select native plants suitable to the location that would support wildlife and be compatible with soil samples. They also helped determine project components working within the budget. Committee members canvassed the community seeking support in the form of signatures and volunteer work commitment from neighbors. They were successful in obtaining community support from 90% of the residents!
Our projected was completed in January 2018.
To create community support for this project we created an ad-hoc committee of residents who showed interest in supporting the project. The committee members spoke to representatives from Sarasota County and various contractors. The committee members helped to develop a design plan for the habitat and select native plants suitable to the location that would support wildlife and be compatible with soil samples. They also helped determine project components working within the budget. Committee members canvassed the community seeking support in the form of signatures and volunteer work commitment from neighbors. They were successful in obtaining community support from 90% of the residents!
Our projected was completed in January 2018.
The location for the new wildlife habitat is adjacent to an existing wetland.
Locations for the various species of native plants were marked in preparation for planting.
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Phase I was to eliminate the existing vegetation in the area where the native plants would be planted to create the habitat. An environmentally friendly herbicide was used that was non-toxic to pets, people or the oak trees.
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Volunteers placed Florida native plants in their designated locations marked by labeled flags in preparation for planting.
One group of volunteers worked in the morning to place and plant a portion of the native plants.
A second group of volunteers worked in the afternoon to plant the remainder of the native plants and water them in.
After the micro-irrigation was installed, a third group of volunteers worked to distribute over 200 bales of pine straw.
The volunteers then worked to spread the pine straw around the newly planted native plants.
Our third group of volunteers who helped to spread the mulch.
Wilma Holley, Program Specialist for Florida Friendly Landscape, from Sarasota County Extension presented a talk on the various plant species in the wildlife habitat and the wildlife they support to members of our community.
Above photo taken in February 2018. Below photo taken in May 2018
Venice Gondolier Article of May 16, 2018 on Mission Estates Wildlife Habitat
Thank you Sarasota County!
Landscape & Irrigation Improvements using Florida Yards and Neighborhood Principles
Mission Estates was approved for a third Neighborhood Grant in January 2016 to improve entrance landscape and irrigation using Florida Yard and Neighborhood Principles. Our entrance landscape included 28 Washingtonian palms that were diseased or dying and landscaping that had overgrown the space or was not the right plant for that location. With the assistance of the County Extension representatives, we replaced the palms and plants with Florida friendly plants or trees requiring less maintenance to reduce the impact on our environment. Updating the irrigation system to micro-irrigation also helps to conserve the state's water resources. Ninety-three percent of our community members supported the project and nearly 30% of Mission Estates residents volunteered their time to help with the project. Community volunteers assisted with planting and mulching and the initial tending of the newly planted vegetation.
Above is a photo taken before the start of our project. Many of the palms were diseased or declining and vegetation had become overgrown and was no longer thriving.
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The diseased and declining palms were evaluated by a certified Arborist. The palms and vegetation that were overgrown or diseased were then removed.
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A group of 23 community volunteers worked together to plant the smaller plants at the entrance.
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Another group of 20 community volunteers worked together to mulch the newly planted Florida friendly plants.
Thank you to Sarasota County's Neighborhood Grant Program, Mission Estates residents who supported the project and our many volunteers who helped to make the project possible. Together we have improved our community and the environment.
Water Quality Improvement and Shoreline Restoration
Mission Estates was approved for Neighborhood Grants in 2014 & 2015. Mission Estates' ponds and wetlands are what add value and attractiveness to our small community, so taking steps to enhance one of our greatest assets was a logical choice. By taking steps to improve the quality of our storm water run-off we are helping to reduce pollutants and nutrients from entering our bays. These steps also bring a more natural look to our ponds and help to create an environmentally friendly habitat for fish and wildlife. Restoring the shoreline has minimized continued erosion and kept eroded material from filtering into our bays and out of our landfills. Mission Estates' pond/water restoration project gained overwhelming community support with 80% of our residents supporting the project!
The photos below show the results of our pond/water restoration project. The floating aquatic plant islands were done with the guidance of the Neighborhood Environmental Steward Ship Team Coordinator, Rob Wright.
The photos below show the results of our pond/water restoration project. The floating aquatic plant islands were done with the guidance of the Neighborhood Environmental Steward Ship Team Coordinator, Rob Wright.
The pond/water restoration project included the addition of Florida native aquatic vegetation along the shoreline in conjunction with shoreline restoration which helped keep eroded material from filtering into our bays and out of our landfills.
The addition of floating aquatic plant islands and shoreline aquatic plants coupled with shoreline restoration has helped to create a more natural look to our ponds and create a better habitat for fish and wildlife. Reducing pollutants and nutrients in our stormwater run-off will help to keep our bays healthy.
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Community volunteers installed potted Florida native aquatic vegetation into pre-cut holes in a floating mat. The aquatic plants act to filter out 2-3 times the amount of pollutants and nutrients than the same plants rooted in the soil.
The floating aquatic plant island in the photo above was taken one month after installation. We are very happy with the success of our project and have enjoyed working with the many knowledgeable and helpful representatives of Sarasota County's Neighborhood Grant Program.
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If you would like to learn more about the benefits of the Sarasota County NEST (neighborhood environmental stewardship team) program, click HERE for a short video on pond restoration using floating plant islands.
If you would like to learn more about the restoration of our pond click here for a 10 minute video presentation.