Earth Day Celebration

Celebrate Earth Day this Friday with Tampa Bay Watch, St Pete City Parks and the Old Southeast Neighborhood Association (OSNA) at Lassing Park from 9am-noon.

Neighbors and visitors can participate and learn about the Living Shoreline Project at the north end of Lassing Park. The Earth Day event will feature the first installation of native grass planting plus more oyster reef balls and oyster bags at the north end of Lassing Park.

The project is designed to help stabilize approximately 700 feet of severely eroding shoreline. It also provides hard-bottom habitats for fish and wildlife resources and promotes water quality improvements. Creation of a living shoreline project, including oyster reef balls, oyster shell reefs, and coastal wetland plants will prevent further erosion of Lassing Park, restore lost habitat systems to the bay, and improve water quality through natural biological filtration.

This effort is being championed by Tampa Bay Watch, St. Pete City Parks, and the Old SE Neighborhood Association. Other supporting organizations present Friday will include the Waterfront Parks Foundation, Sierra Club,  Friends of Salt Creek, St Pete Water Resources, Water Warrior Alliance, and local city officials.

Other activities include:

• A Plankton Lab where you can observe microscopic same-day samples of plankton gathered by Tampa Bay Watch from Lassing Park's coast
• OSNA will have a table on site. Stop by to connect with board members and learn about upcoming Old Southeast events and volunteer opportunities

Come make a difference with us this Earth Day!