About Us
Our Mission
SoUL’s purpose is to demonstrate and educate the public on the proven benefits of guiding volunteers on the enhancement and improvement of urban lakes. These benefits include restored wetland habitat, reduced litter and trash, enhanced interest in lake environmental quality, and increased educational opportunities. Building on our long-term experience of restoring Crescent Lake in St. Petersburg, we will share successful examples and useful guidance on nature-based methods and public outreach for the creation and enhancement of lake vegetation and managing water quality.
The History of SoUL
SoUL received Federal non-profit status in 2021.
However, the roots of our organization extend back to April 2007, when a core group of a planner, an artist, and an environmental scientist received a mini-grant from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP). That initial grant supported the planning and installation of wetland marsh plants in the shallow shorelines of the north and south ends of Crescent Lake in St. Petersburg. That group gathered other neighbors and formed the volunteer group, Friends of Crescent Lake (FOCL). FOCL has remained active since that time, sponsoring monthly clean-ups and receiving a total of four other mini-grants to continue the progress and upgrading.
What We Do
In the field, SoUL directs and tracks the progress of litter reduction and habitat restoration efforts in Crescent Lake. We also assist other interested neighborhood homeowner associations in lake cleanup and revegetation efforts. SoUL tracks and summarizes chemical and physical cleanup data and reaches out to the neighboring communities to provide information updates to share our perspective on the value of urban lakes and the various stewardship measures that can be taken.