2019 was a very busy but exciting year for us. We officially became a Chapter of Friends of Sarasota County Parks in December 2018 so 2019 was our first full year of operating as Friends of Osprey Junction Trailhead, an all-volunteer organization. In 2019 there were 68 volunteers that gave 3,396 hours of their time for the Visitor Center Project at Osprey Junction Trailhead Park. Thank you, volunteers!
January
· Held an Open House Party for OJT volunteers attended by 39 people
February
· Organized Butterfly Garden Team and held Orientation Meeting
March
· Hosted the SRQ Plein Air Painters on the park grounds for a painting event
· Managed OJT rest stop for the Tour de Parks Bike Ride
April
· Received a $32,689 grant from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County for the Visitor Center Project
· Held a Garage Sale Fundraising Event that raised $870
· Conducted a Helmets for Kids Event at OJT
· Hosted the Peace River Plein Air Painters on the park grounds for a painting event
· Initiated our website ojtfriends.com
May
· Received a $9,500 grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation for the Pedicab Ride Program
June
· Volunteers removed the old carpet and we paid a contractor to install new carpet in the Visitor Center
July
· Received a $200 donation from the Jelks Foundation for the Visitor Center Project
· Paid for the installation of rain gutters on the Visitor Center
August
· Initiated “Trailhead Buzz” newsletter for volunteers
September
· Volunteers completed the Bird Garden
· Received a $500 grant from the Serenoa Chapter – Florida Native Plant Society for the rain garden
· Received a $1,00 grant from the Sarasota County Master Gardeners for the rain garden
October
· Volunteers completed the Rain Garden
· Hosted the Peace River Plein Air Painters on the park grounds for a second painting event
· Paid for and volunteers installed the artwork hanging system in the Visitor Center
· Purchased the pedicab, donated it to County Parks and prepared it for public rides
· Received a $5,000 donation from Roland Levy for the Visitor Center Project
November
· Volunteers completed painting the interior of the Visitor Center
· Received an award from Keep Sarasota County Beautiful and 21 volunteers attended awards dinner
· Volunteers completed the Container Plants Garden as part of the Front Entry Landscape Project
December
· Held 1st Birthday Party for volunteers attended by 33 people
· Opened our first art exhibition in the Visitor Center with artwork from volunteers
· Conducted Helmets for Kids event in partnership with Friends of The Legacy Trail