On December 6th, MAR completed our fourth planting on the Pinellas Trail and our second planting of the year. This time, we added 55 new trees and shrubs to the landscape, including slash pines, live oaks, red mulberries, and additional red cedars. We also enriched the understory with native shrubs that will support wildlife already thriving along the corridor, especially blue jays and other resident birds.
What made this planting especially meaningful was the people who showed up. Twenty-five volunteers joined us, many of them returning faces who have become part of this growing community. Your dedication fuels this work, and we’re grateful to every one of you for spending your morning improving the trail. This event also lined up with the 35th anniversary of the trail’s creation.
For anyone unfamiliar with it, the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail is a 47-mile greenway stretching from Tarpon Springs to St Petersburg. It passes through many of Pinellas County’s most recognizable communities and has earned national recognition, including induction into the Rail-Trail Hall of Fame in 2008. It’s a beloved space for cyclists, runners, walkers, and families every single day.
Adding more trees to this busy bike path is essential. The trail is exposed, sun-drenched, and often harsh, especially during Florida’s intense summers. Native species like slash pine, live oak, red cedar, and mulberry are built for these conditions. Their deep roots, drought tolerance, and resilience to salt and heat make them strong long-term contributors to canopy growth. As they mature, these trees will cool the pavement, provide much-needed shade for trail users, and create habitat for a wide range of wildlife. The shrubs we added help stabilize the soil, protect young trees, and strengthen the multi-layered structure of the ecosystem.
This project sits right across from our Phase 3 planting site, giving us a clear view of the future. We can already look across the trail and see last year’s trees thriving, stretching upward, and proving what consistent community effort can do. Watching these new plantings take root beside them fills us with excitement and gratitude. We’re proud to continue this work. Each planting adds another piece to the long-term vision: a greener, cooler, more connected trail for people and wildlife alike. Little by little, the future canopy is growing and you’re helping build it.
Stay tuned for upcoming MAR events, volunteer opportunities, and community gatherings throughout the year. From plantings to educational projects and hands-on restoration work, there are many ways to get involved and grow alongside us as we continue caring for the places that connect us!
Event Photos
