Volunteer Spotlight, Marianne Burbach
Marianne Burbach
Eden Gardens State Park
Marianne Burbach has been volunteering with the Florida State Park system since 1988, when she and her husband decided to make the move to Florida from the Midwest. They had always vacationed in the Florida Panhandle and had fortuitously discovered Eden Gardens State Park while exploring the Santa Rosa Beach area.
Since that time, Marianne has served many roles at the park, from assisting in creating a CSO to serving as the president of board. Marianne has never been one to mind getting her hands dirty, from working with local garden clubs to maintain certain garden areas of the park to coordinating master gardeners receiving their service hours at the park.
One of the most important accomplishments Marianne spearheaded for the park has been the building of the screened pavilion, now a thriving wedding venue.
Every year, hundreds of weddings take place under the live oaks in the park, with the CSO being able to offer a lovely venue for receptions and parties after the wedding. Marianne coordinates hiring wedding coordinators, security and finances to make sure that brides from all over the southeastern U.S. make magical wedding memories at Eden Gardens State Park. Fortunately for the park, the venue is managed by the CSO, which means all the funds raised from weddings come directly back to benefit the park.
We would be remiss if we didn’t mention all the community relationships Marianne has built for the park throughout her years of service. She coordinates with the University of Florida extension office to bring in new master gardeners to the park and is a master gardener herself. She also ensures that we have garden experts available who can answer questions about the camellias when the park hosts events such as the annual Camellia Festival.
Marianne also coordinates with the community for the annual candlelight tour, reaching out to community groups to decorate the historic Wesley House each Christmas. She has a great working relationship with the local media and ensures the park puts its best face forward when marketing special events and happenings.