Lee Parks department picks up awards

Betsy Clayton Lee County Parks and Recreation department won a variety of awards recently from the Florida Recreation & Park Association, a statewide non-profit organization representing local government parks and recreation interests in Florida. The awards included:

• A Media Excellence Award in photography for "A Day on the Blueway." Awards chair Terri Owen said, "This publication highlights both the beauty and the benefits of the Great Calusa Blueway, a 100 mile paddling trail along Lee County's Coast. Photos of the Blueway include real life paddlers in safe boating equipment and send the message of safety, while capturing the beauty of the Blueway."

Betsy Clayton, Waterways Coordinator for Lee County Parks and Recreation, accepted the award at the Association's recent awards ceremony. Clayton also writes an outdoors column in Florida Weekly.

• The Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough, were awarded the Group Voluntary Service.

Formed in 2001, the Friends of Six Mile Cypress Slough assists the Six Mile staff in educational efforts at the preserve, supporting development and operation of the Interpretive Center, and to promote special events and projects

to enhance the preserve.

President of The Friends, Joyce Sanders and her husband Bill, accepted the award.

• Terry Cain, Land Stewardship Coordinator with Lee County Parks and Recreation Department, was awarded the Outstanding Research.

Awards chair Owen said, "Research and data are two very necessary components of the "science" side of natural resource management. Our honored researcher, Terry Cain, has researched the gopher tortoise at Bowditch Point Regional Park since 2005. Her data has allowed for the scientific management of relocated tortoise, but has also effectively been used as a tool in educating park visitors on the importance of protecting the species, conserving land, and how we all can share the same space through knowledge and understanding. While scientific, Terry makes the research understandable and practical" ¦