Friends of Gamble Rogers State Park Receive Pawpaw Community Native Plant Grant Award

Friends of Gamble Rogers State Park (FROGRS) recently received a $500 Community Native Landscape Grant from the Pawpaw Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society. These funds were used to purchase native plants, trees, and shrubs for the riverside camping area of the park. As these plants mature, they will provide additional shade, enhance privacy between campsites, and create habitats for local fauna.

“We are pleased to receive this grant and grateful to the Pawpaw Chapter for their continued support of FROGRS efforts to enhance the camping area with native plants and educate the public about the importance of conserving native habitats,” said Greg Wilson, FROGRS Board President. “Native plants are essential in the natural environment as well as home landscapes, and we are proud to promote their use.”

Park staff and FROGRS volunteers completed Phase 2 of the enhancement project by planting 48 trees and shrubs on October 31. The plants included Florida privet, wax myrtle, rusty lyonia, southern magnolia, sand live oak, tough bumilia, Cherokee bean, and beautyberry. Phase 1 of the enhancement project was completed on September 23, 2023, with the planting of palm trees, yaupon hollies, wax myrtle, Hercules club, and coreopsis. This earlier phase was also made possible by a $500 grant from the Pawpaw Chapter and matching funds from FROGRS.

The Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS) works to promote the preservation, conservation, and restoration of native plants and their communities throughout Florida. The Pawpaw Chapter furthers this mission by providing grants that assist in planting native species and educating the community about their benefits.

The mission of FROGRS is to support Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area and North Peninsula State Park through fundraising, community involvement, educational outreach, and enhancement of park resources. New members are always welcome!

For more information about FROGRS, visit Friends of Gamble Rogers State Park Flagler Beach or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Press Release from: Mary Ellen Setting FROGRS Board Member