Pictured: the outdoor courtyard space at SPARCC halfway done, courtesy of the organization

SPARCC, Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center, recently announced its partnership with The Manasota chapter of the Florida Nursery, Grower's & Landscape Association, commonly known as FNGLA. Since 2020, the Manasota chapter has selected one nonprofit organization each year to support through an outreach project that aims to help improve an outdoor space in order to make it more purposeful and enjoyable. "We have chosen to support the Safe Place and Rape Crisis Center so the employees and victims they serve have a comfortable and a relaxing place to decompress or get some fresh air," says Manasota Chapter FNGLA President John Taylor. "Our goal is to make the outdoor space low maintenance, tranquil and aesthetically pleasing."

SPARCC's outdoor courtyard already encompasses a wooden pergola, but after the landscaping is finished, it will become a much more lush, green and pleasant space for advocates to meet with clients, as well as for visitors, survivors and staff who support them to retreat to. The outdoor transformation project is scheduled to take place at their outreach service location (2139 Main St., Sarasota) this Saturday, September 18 and will be completed in one day. The FNGLA shared they plan to use an assortment of granite and Mexican Beach Pebble to create a zen garden. Incorporated into the serene scene will also be a stone bench and fountain installed to create a Florida-friendly landscape, while plants like blue daze, jasmine, crotons and liriope will be planted to give the space color and provide more dimension. 

“We are thrilled to be chosen as this year’s Florida Nursery, Grower's & Landscape Association recipient," says SPARCC President & CEO, Jessica Hays. "We believe that this project will not only be appreciated and utilized by our staff but, it will also provide a much-needed, peaceful outdoor space for all those we serve at our Main Street location.”

Pictured: the outdoor courtyard space at SPARCC halfway done, courtesy of the organization