By Coral Gables Gazette staff

Coral Gables residents have an opportunity to turn their curiosity for butterflies and native species into hands‑on environmental action on Saturday, Sept. 27. The city’s Parks Pollinator Palooza, hosted by Keep Coral Gables Beautiful and the Community Recreation Department, brings together families and nature enthusiasts for a morning of planting, crafts, and wildlife monitoring.

The event runs from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Coral Gables War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive, though the official program is often promoted as beginning at 9:30 a.m. Participants will help restore a planting bed with native and pollinator-friendly species, build birdhouses, enjoy children’s crafts and readings, and receive an introduction to the iNaturalist app for tracking pollinator species locally.

Science meets community engagement

The inclusion of iNaturalist is a clever bridge between citizen science and community engagement. Newcomers to the app will get hands-on guidance in cataloguing butterflies, bees and other pollinators in their own backyards. While the planting work builds habitat, the data collection helps turn that habitat into knowledge — connecting neighborhood efforts with a global ecological network.

For families, especially those with children, the mix of crafts, readings, and manual work is designed to spark curiosity without pressure. Keep Coral Gables Beautiful notes that volunteer hours will be available upon request — a small perk that may appeal to students seeking community service credits.

Fee, registration and what to expect

The event is not free: registration currently costs $6.50, which includes materials like a birdhouse to decorate and plant. Attendees should plan to register in advance via the city’s events site.

The city asks that participants bring closed‑toe shoes, water, sunscreen, hats, and perhaps gloves (though event organizers will provide necessary tools and gloves). Parking is available at the Youth Center and around the facility.

New plantings, advocates

Coral Gables, like many urban jurisdictions, grapples with habitat loss and pollinator decline. Events like Pollinator Palooza provide two important interventions: first, immediate action through new plantings, and second, education that turns passive listeners into advocates. The pairing of planting and app training helps participants see how their efforts plug into larger ecological systems.

Moreover, the event is part of a broader year-round effort by Keep Coral Gables Beautiful, a city sustainability initiative launched in 2020 to lead cleanup, beautification and environmental education projects. With this kind of community outreach, the city strengthens its “green infrastructure” while deepening citizen connection to local ecosystems.

If you go…

What: Parks Pollinator Palooza
When: Saturday, Sept. 27, 9:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m. (program begins around 9:30)
Where: War Memorial Youth Center, 405 University Drive, Coral Gables
Cost: $6.50 (includes craft materials, birdhouse)
Register / Info: Coral Gables
Questions: Email SpecialEvents@coralgables.com