Community Spotlight: Sunbow Bay Completes SBEP Partners Grant Project on Anna Maria Island

BRADENTON – The Sunbow Bay Condominium Association on Anna Maria Island recently completed a landscaping project with support from a SBEP Bay Partners Grant. The project retrofitted existing turf to be a Florida-friendly garden resulting in the addition of nearly 2,500 square feet to the larger demonstration garden. The project leader is Denise Elliott supported by her husband Don and other members of the association’s board of directors including Lynn Erickson and Dan Gonzalez. More than 25 residents supported the project with volunteer hours.

The recently completed project is part of a multi-year plan by Sunbow Bay to make their 10-acre property more Bay-friendly with the use of Florida-friendly landscaping principles. The project launched in 2010 has helped reduce the use of pesticides, fertilizers and irrigation saving energy and money.

A subcommittee with the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) is evaluating current applications for Bay Partner Grants for this year. The grants promote environmental education, community involvement, and stewardship to improve the overall quality of Sarasota Bay. SBEP has awarded $213,000 in grants to more than 109 organizations since 2003. To learn more about the Bay Partner Grant Program please visit sarasotabay.org.

About Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

The SBEP is dedicated to restoring the area's greatest natural asset — Sarasota Bay. Its unique program strives to improve water quality, increase habitat and enhance the natural resources of the area for use and enjoyment by the public. Sarasota Bay is one of 28 protected estuaries in the U.S. The SBEP was founded in 1989 and its partners include Sarasota County, Manatee County, City of Sarasota, City of Bradenton, Town of Longboat Key, Southwest Florida Water Management District, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.