Keep Brevard Beautiful’s (KBB) South Action Team presented the “We Noticed” Beautification Award to the City of Satellite Beach for their recently completed Gail Meredith Seaside Forest, located at the Satellite Beach City Hall on Cassia Blvd. on February 15. Gail Meredith was a board member of the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition, turtle walk volunteer for the Friends of the Carr Refuge, Marine Resources Council member, and Conradina Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) member. It was Gail`s vision to create a native tree and plant garden that would inspire others to plant natives at their home. She passed away in September 2019, but her legacy of environmental stewardship will be memorialized with this beautification.

Fundraising for the project was supported by volunteers, the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition, the Conradina Chapter FNPS and the Friends of the Carr Refuge. Eagle Scout Troop 309 created the educational signage. The City’s Public Works department now maintains and improves the plantings year-round. Florida native plants used throughout the forest include magnolia, pigeon plum, fiddlewood, gumbo limbo, Simpson stopper, live oak, North American holy, blolly, firebush, geiger, privet, Jamaican caper, beach sunflower, cordgrass, and porterweed. The forest implements sustainable practices, using no fertilizers and minimal watering. Planting trees reduces carbon in the atmosphere, reduces stormwater impacts, and creates a cooler environment while providing habitat. Attending the “We Noticed” presentation were City of Satellite Beach’s Mayor Steve Osmer, Council Members Jodi Gaudy Rozycki, David Vigliotti, Mindy Gibson, and Mark Boyd, City Manager Courtney Barker, and Assistant City Manager Brittany Retherford; KBB employees; KBB South Action Team trustees; and volunteers from Eagle Scout Troop 309, Satellite Beach Sustainability Board, Kids Dig Gardening, Native Plant Society (Conradina Chapter), and IRL Coalition.

The South Action Team recognizes property- and business-owners throughout the southern part of Brevard County year-round for their efforts to beautify the area and environmentally improve their landscaping. The program has been in operation since the 1990’s and has recognized dozens of properties throughout the County.

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