Timucuan Parks Foundation and its City of Jacksonville park partner had a record turnout for MLK Day of Service on Monday. The nonprofit was joined by more than 100 volunteers at Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park for invasive plant removal, trail maintenance and litter cleanup as part of the nationwide observance celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“It was a great day to be outdoors and we were able to get a lot of work done, thanks to all the volunteers who joined us,” said Felicia Boyd, program and outreach director for TPF. “We usually have a large turnout for our yearly MLK Day of Service but this year was the best yet. It was so wonderful to see so many people of all ages helping to care for our natural resources.”
Joining TPF’s seasoned volunteers and the Hanna Park staff were high school groups from Sandalwood and Stanton, Boy Scout Troop 277 from Ponte Vedra, a meetup group from the Sierra Club, Florida Trail Association members, and some new individuals. The volunteers spread throughout Hanna Park to clear invasive swordfern and trim the south hiking trails. The groups also cleaned trash from the picnic areas, from the beachfront parking lots and from the shoreline. The MLK Day of Service event was done in partnership with the City of Jacksonville’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services with funding support from REI.
MLK Day of Service events were hosted in wilderness preserves throughout the city. A group of volunteers from Florida State College at Jacksonville helped the National Park Service with shoreline cleanup at Kingsley Plantation on Fort George Island. Talbot Islands State Parks staff and volunteers planted 500 longleaf pine seedlings at Pumpkin Hlll Creek Preserve State Park.
TPF hosts cleanup and maintenance projects throughout the year with its park partners which include the City of Jacksonville, Florida State Parks and the National Park Service. To volunteer for the next service event, visit our volunteer page.