New Native Greenery and Wildlife Educational Signs Added to Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway
Scenic W.A.V.E.S. Partnership Committee, Anna Maria Island Garden Club, Keep Manatee Beautiful partner to revitalize Bradenton Beach landmark and parks
On May 1, 2026 significant beautification and environmental upgrades were completed on Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway, which is Gulf Drive/SR 789 within Bradenton Beach city limits. The initiative was coordinated through the City of Bradenton Beach Scenic W.A.V.E.S. Partnership Committee in which Citizens for a Scenic Florida is a member. The City of Bradenton Beach Scenic W.A.V.E.S. (Waterfronts: Accessible, Viable, Ecological, Sustainable) Partnership Committee is the city advisory committee that represents the Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway Byway Organization for the Florida Department of Transportation Designated Scenic Highway Program.
The Anna Maria Island Garden Club and Keep Manatee Beautiful partnered to revitalize the roundabout landmark on Gulf Drive at the intersection of Bridge Street. In response to damage and landscape decline caused by recent hurricanes, flooding, and storm events, the project began last year with the replacement of Sabal palm trees. This year, the project introduced 200 native, salt-tolerant, and drought-resistant plants specifically selected for the challenging coastal conditions – Muhly Grass, Candelabra aloe, Blanket flower and Beach Dune Sunflower. Installation was on April 28th and the ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 1st.
In addition, the City of Bradenton Beach Scenic W.A.V.E.S. Partnership Committee coordinated design and manufacturing of the “Wildlife of Anna Maria Island” educational signs installed on Bradenton Beach Scenic Highway. Users of this scenic highway and adjoining parks will be educated about how to protect the wildlife and their habitats. The educational signs were installed at the Bridge Street Beach Access, Jan Vosburgh Beachfront Park, Katie Pierola Sunset Park and John Chappie Park. The educational
signs were funded by AMI Moose Lodge 2188, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, Suncoast Waterkeeper, and Tampa Bay Estuary Program Mini-Grant. The sign design was done by Drawn by Dawn Witherington Illustration & Design, then manufactured by iZone Imaging. Each sign is 60″ x 24” high-pressure laminate CHPL and was installed atop aluminum posts by the Bradenton Beach Public Works Department staff. The sign design and content were reviewed for scientific accuracy by Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, as well as Wildlife Inc.
“This project represents an important investment in one of the most visible and highly traveled areas of our city,” said Mayor John Chappie of Bradenton Beach. “We are grateful to the all partners for their leadership and commitment to enhancing the beauty and environmental resilience of our community.”
Renitia Bertoluzzi, president of the Anna Maria Island Garden Club, emphasized the collaborative impact of the effort. “We are proud to support beautification projects that benefit our island communities,” she said. Now in its 75th year, the Anna Maria Island Garden Club is committed to the beautification and preservation of Anna Maria Island. The organization promotes gardening education, supports the protection of native plants and wildlife, and provides charitable and civic contributions to the community.
“The Garden Club is one of Manatee County’s strongest advocates for the environment and protection of our local resources, so naturally we love partnering with them,” said Jennifer Hoffman, Executive Director of Keep Manatee Beautiful. “This initiative is one of the many ways we work together to make Anna Maria such a gorgeous place to visit.” Keep Manatee Beautiful is a nonprofit organization that inspires community involvement through its commitment to making Manatee County a cleaner and more beautiful environment. Established in the spring of 1991 as an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful and Keep Florida Beautiful, Keep Manatee Beautiful has developed networks of volunteers who help provide grassroots solutions to littering, recycling, illegal dumping, beautification and solid waste disposal.
