Help Your National Park this Arbor Day

Date: April 21, 2011
Contact: Linda Friar, 305-242-7714
Contact: Kevin Bowles Mohr, 305-242-7752

Help Your National Park this Arbor Day
Volunteer Event - April 30 at Everglades National Park

In recognition of Arbor Day, Everglades National Park will host a volunteer event to protect our native trees and their habitat from exotic plant species. On Saturday, April 30, 2011, join park staff at the Chekika area of the park and assist in the removal of invasive plants to help restore the natural landscape. 

Due to the tropical environment of south Florida, common house plants and ornamental landscaping shrubs have become invasive weeds in the Everglades. These weeds outgrow and compete with the natural vegetation for sunlight, water, and space. Instead of planting a tree for Arbor Day, Everglades’ staff have decided to remove the weeds so native trees can survive.

For this project, volunteers will pull up by hand an exotic plant called Syngonium and use loppers to cut back a larger exotic plant, Brazilian Pepper.

Volunteers will meet in the Chekika parking lot at 9:00 am. The early morning will be the most pleasant working conditions for removing the exotic plants. Be prepared for hot and humid weather. Participants are required to wear long-sleeved shirts, sneakers, and long pants to protect against exposure to sun, stinging insects, poisonwood, and ivy. Please bring a lunch, water, a hat, and sunglasses.

All are invited. To volunteer, show up or RSVP with Cerisa Swanberg at [phone].

Directions: Physical Address - 24200 SW 160th Street, Miami, FL
Chekika is located about 36 miles from downtown Miami and 18 miles from Homestead, Florida. To get there, take the Dolphin Expressway (State Road 836) to the Palmetto Expressway (State Road 826) or the Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike. Exit the Palmetto or the Turnpike at Kendall Drive (SW 88th Street), and go west to Krome Avenue (SW 177th Avenue). Turn left and go south about five miles to SW 168th Street. Turn right and go west about six miles to 237th Avenue. Turn right and go north about a mile. Turn left on160th Street, and you'll be facing west with the entrance to Chekika just ahead.

From the south, take the Turnpike to Eureka Drive (SW 184th Street), go west to Krome Avenue, and turn north to SW 168th Street - or take Krome Avenue due north from Homestead to SW 168th Street and follow directions above.

-NPS-