==================

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Frederick Law Olmsted

More than 150 years ago, Frederick Law Olmsted called parks “the lungs of the city” as he launched into designing Central Park.

As 2014 rolls into view, we’re still learning about the many ways that parks and public lands hold the keys to the health, community life, and human appeal of urban centers.

The Friends will look back on 2013 as a year of generous volunteer action across a variety of public parks, lands and events — working withSarasota County Parks and Rec on projects ranging from the Sarasota Bay Guardians’ Air Potato Pick-Up at Bay Walk Creek (the next one’s in January), to those who came out to Keep Sarasota County Beautiful and National Public Lands Day; from the opening of Culverhouse Nature Park, Bee Ridge Community Garden and the asphalt gardeners of L.A. Ainger toBenderson’s champion rowing meets; from working Englewood and Phillippi‘s farmers’ markets to reinvigorating the dog parks and developing the Legacy Trail; from the Carlton Reserve and the Lekatchka Archers to a hundredvolunteer students from Ringling and all our Chapters — a resonant and heartfelt thanks.

Thanks to these and many more efforts, Sarasota’s lungs will be healthier and hungrier in the coming year for open air, clear waters, and cooling shades.