MONROE COUNTY CELEBRATES JULY PARKS AND RECREATION MONTH AT PINE CHANNEL NATURE PARK ON JULY 11

BIG PINE KEY, FL – Monroe County Parks and Beaches and Monroe County UF/IFAS Extension Services invite the community to celebrate July Parks and Recreation Month at Pine Channel Nature Park on Saturday, July 11, from 10 a.m. to noon. The free family-friendly event features the recognition of the 2026 Parks and Beaches Art Contest winners and the unveiling of the new Pine Channel Native Plant Pathway. The event celebrates the importance of parks in bringing communities together while highlighting local art, environmental education, and outdoor recreation.

The 2026 Parks and Beaches Art Contest featured the theme "Under the Sea and Beyond the Shore." Approximately 75 students submitted artwork and mascot designs. This year's winners are two fourth-graders, Olivia Sokolov and Tennyson Bozart, from The Basilica School of Saint Mary Star of the Sea in Key West. Their artwork will be showcased at the event.

In addition, guests are invited to walk the new Pine Channel Native Plant Pathway, created through a partnership between Monroe County UF/IFAS Extension Services and Florida Master Gardener Volunteers. The pathway features a self-guided walking trail showcasing native Florida Keys plants. Informational signs along the pathway describe each plant and include QR codes linking to additional resources from the University of Florida.

The celebration will also include informational vendor booths, a hands-on fish art activity, free ice cream from Keys Vineyard Church, free native plant giveaways from the Key West Botanical Garden, and gardening advice from Florida Master Gardener Volunteers.