The WK Preservation Group Announces Two Spring Fundraising Celebrations
April 30 in Tarpon Springs and May 19 in Dunedin
TARPON SPRINGS, FL – (April 4, 2022) – To help save the vanishing wilderness in Florida’s most densely populated county, WK Preservation Group has announced two fundraisers: Saturday, April 30, in Tarpon Springs and Thursday, May 19, in Dunedin. The public is invited to join grassroots organizers, neighbors, friends, concerned citizens and VIPs to attend the following events. All are dedicated to helping save “slices of paradise” starting with the West Klosterman Preserve and growing from there to other parts of Pinellas County.
ROCK THE PRESERVE
Benefit for the WK Preservation Group April 30 5:30pm to 10pm
Silverking Brewery, located at 325 E. Lemon Street in Tarpon Springs 34689.
Guests are invited to Silverking Brewery to hear The Stick perform from 6 to 8 pm and Doyle’s Revenge from 8 to 10 pm. The Stick is a fresh new local alternative rock band playing an eclectic mix of funk, blues, ska and folk. Headliner Doyle’s Revenge is a well-known Palm Harbor-based good time alternative rock cover band who put their own spin on music from the 80’s, 90’s, and more recent hits. While the event is open to the public, tickets purchased in advance for $10 will receive a Rock the Preserve koozie and a sticker.
Tickets are available athttps://wkpreserve.com/wkpg-events/ . There will be fun events and donations will be accepted throughout the evening.
SAVE A SLICE OF PARADISE
Jimmy Buffett Themed Benefit for WKPG May 19 6:30pm to 9:30pm
Sea Sea Riders Restaurant, located at 221 Main Street in Dunedin 34698.
Guests are invited for a fun night of tropical celebration. Enjoy music by Roger Bartlett (Jimmy Buffett’s original guitarist from his Coral Reefer Band) and keyboard artist Robin Swenson (best known for his work with Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons). There will be food by Sea Sea Riders, beverages, a cash bar, and a silent auction. The ticket price of $50 per person includes music, food, and a drink ticket. All proceeds go to the identification and preservation of slices of paradise in the Pinellas County area. Tickets are available at https://wkpreserve.com/wkpg-events/ . DRESS: Florida Festive Cocktail
Questions about the events? Send a note to events@wkpreserve.com .
WK PRESERVATION GROUP
WKPG Vision
An organization of concerned citizens, the WK Preservation Group (WKPG) is close to succeeding in saving 14 acres of pristine and ecologically important land from becoming a condominium development. Environmental scientists have toured the property and documented more than 60 species of plants and wildlife, including gopher tortoises, flying squirrels, osprey and eagles, wood storks, an ancient and endangered Florida rosemary, giant air plants, longleaf pine and many others. Flaked chert is a common find and evidence of ancient native living areas. The Preserve is coastal upland adjacent to the 76-acre Mariner’s Point Management Area (MPMA), an environmental lowland preservation area owned by Pinellas County and has functioned as one ecosystem with the MPMA for over a hundred years. Success in saving the Preserve leads to:
• Protection for rare, threatened, and endangered wildlife
• Promoting groundwater recharge and improving surface water quality
• Avoiding increased stress on overcrowded roads and infrastructure
• Preserving irreplaceable land for generations
Success in saving the Preserve will enable WKPG to continue to identify and work with county and state authorities on future conservation projects.
Background
The Pinellas County School District purchased the West Klosterman land from the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 1996 with an eye toward building a school or other educational facility. After determining the property was not needed, the School Board voted to put the land up for sale. A developer expressed interest, and the school board agreed to sell the land to the developer for $3.3 million. A nearby resident noticed people gathered at the property’s gate in January 2020 and learned of the agreement. This discovery led to formation of the WK Preservation Group as a 501(c)(3) charity that has led a campaign to save the West Klosterman Preserve for over two years. In that time, WKPG has united over 1000 supporters and donors to commit to saving the Preserve, and then to identify more conservation opportunities for future campaigns.
WK Preservation Group website: https://www.wkpreserve.com
Pinellas Community Foundation’s West Klosterman Preserve Fund website –https://pinellascf.org/giving/