Mayor Beth Sweeney spotlights volunteers’ “sociable gardening” program in St. Augustine Beach

Mayor Beth Sweeney used a Monday "Mondays with the Mayor" program to highlight a volunteer "sociable gardening" program organized by the St. Augustine Beach Democratic Club that helps maintain parkettes and small public gardens across the City of St. Augustine Beach.

The program began about a year ago through a partnership with city Public Works, said Bob Samuels, a member of the volunteer group. "Our schedule Monday mornings 8:00 before it gets warm, we are out here gardening, weeding, and generally keeping things looking nice," Samuels said, describing routine tasks that supplement city maintenance.

Samuels said volunteers began with the Parkquette Gardens and expanded to adopt the front garden area of the adjacent parking lot; in the past few months the group also started rehabilitating the 10th Street parkette. He explained that Public Works handles mowing and tree trimming while volunteers rake, pull weeds and cut back grasses.

"It really takes a village," Mayor Sweeney said, thanking volunteers and praising the collaboration with Public Works. She encouraged other groups in the city to adopt a parkette and to contact the city to get involved.

Samules and the mayor acknowledged the support of Tom Large from Public Works, who helps with trash pickup and purchases flowers for plantings; speakers noted his upcoming retirement and thanked him for his service. The segment closed with a call for more volunteers and an appeal to residents to help keep St. Augustine Beach attractive.

The program offers a recurring, low-cost way for residents to support city upkeep and public spaces; volunteers interested in joining were asked to reach out to the City of St. Augustine Beach for details.