Bartram Bash Celebration 2009

Historic City News has been asked to invite our readers to bring the whole family to Alpine Groves Park on Saturday, April 18, to celebrate Earth Day and William Bartram’s Birthday at the 5th Annual Bartram Bash Celebration.

The free, day-long, fun-filled activities will begin at 9:00 am and conclude at 4:00 pm.

This year’s Bartram Bash Celebration will focus on birds, butterflies, the history of William Bartram and the history of Alpine Groves Park. Specific events will include walks along beautiful trails, demonstrations of yoga and belly dancing, entertainment by a variety of area bands, riverfront activities and a hotdog lunch with birthday cake. All events are free and appropriate for the entire family.

The Bartram Bash will also celebrate Alpine Groves Park as a new destination on the East Section of the Great Florida Birding Trail, a project of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Such designation means Alpine Groves Park has met criteria ensuring it is good for bird watching, but not too sensitive to withstand birder use.

Now in its fifth year, the Bartram Bash is an event that celebrates the historical northwest St. Johns County community of Switzerland in conjunction with William Bartram’s Birthday and Earth Day. William Bartram was the first American-born naturalist and traveled throughout the southeastern United States exploring and illustrating plants and birds. Many sites in the Switzerland area are named for Bartram, including the William Bartram Scenic & Historic Highway.

Alpine Groves Park is a 55-acre passive park located at 2060 State Road 13, along the William Bartram Scenic & Historic Highway in northwest St. Johns County. The park provides a playground, trails, picnic pavilions and a beautiful view of the St. Johns River. The Bartram Bash is sponsored by the St. Johns County Recreation and Parks Department, the Environmental Education Resource Council and the William Bartram Scenic and Historic Highway Corridor Group, along with numerous community organizations, individuals and private donors.

For more information about the Bartram Bash, contact Beverly Fleming at (904) 522-1573.