Potter Park, located at 8587 Potter Park
Drive in Sarasota, is a 37-acre neighbor-
hood park within Palmer Ranch, the release
adds. It offers a wide variety of recreational
opportunities.
The park's amenities include a picnic pavil-
ion, large gazebo, grills, an open area with
picnic tables, playground, basketball courts,
four lighted tennis courts, multi-use playfield,
natural trails and restrooms.
For more information about Potter Park and
Sarasota County Parks and Recreation, visit
scgov.net or call the Sarasota Call Center at
861-5000.
The annual 5K road race and 1-mile fun run/
walk held to raise funds for Mote Marine
Laboratory's Sea Turtle Conservation and
Research Program will take place on Siesta
Key on April 5, Mote has announced.
People interested in participating will receive
a discount if they register by March 21 for the
28th annual Run for the Turtles, a news release
notes. The cost is $30 for adults through
Friday, March 21, and $35 from March 22
through race day, the release says. The fee is
$20 for children age 10 and younger through
March 21 and $25 after that. Download the
form at mote.org/turtlerun or register online
at active.com, the release adds.
Participants also may register on-site start-
ing at 6:30 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at the Siesta
Public Beach gazebo south of the pavilion,
the release points out.
Mote's turtle program, which will soon begin
its 33rd year, is internationally recognized for
coordinating conservation initiatives along
the 35 miles of Sarasota County beaches, the
release continues. All sea turtle species are
considered threatened or endangered under
federal law, it adds. "Mote's monitoring efforts
provide crucial information to help resource
managers protect these ancient reptiles," the
release says, "and Run for the Turtles helps to
support these efforts."
Turtle nesting season runs from May 1
through Oct. 31 on beaches from Longboat
Key through Venice.
The 1-mile fun run/walk will begin at 7:30
a.m. on April 5, while the 5K run will begin
at 8 a.m. Prizes will be awarded to the over-
all male and female winners in each event,
the release notes. Awards for the 5K race
also will be presented to winners in specific
categories, including age groups from 9 and
younger to 85 and older.
For more information, visit mote.org/tur-
tlerun or contact Paula Clark at 388-4441, Ext.
357, or pclark@mote.org.
MOTE MARINE TO HOLD 28TH ANNUAL RUN FOR THE TURTLES ON APRIL 5
A sea turtle nest is marked off with caution
tape on Siesta Key's Turtle Beach in 2012.
Photo by Norman Schimmel
Sarasota News Leader March 21, 2014 Page 72
