Venezolanos en Sanford plants Venezuela's national tree at Groveview Park

Venezolanos en Sanford planted the Araguaney, Venezuela’s national tree, at Groveview Park during a June 22 celebration of National Araguaney Day. The tree planting was presented as a tribute to Venezuelan identity, but it also marked the group’s role as a steward of city land through Sanford’s Adopt-A-Park program.

The city’s Adopt-A-Park effort is designed to improve public spaces through volunteer work, donations and sponsorships. Its guidelines say adopted groups can help reduce litter, assist with weed control and mulching, and handle general maintenance, turning parks into places where civic ties are built as much as landscapes are maintained. At Groveview Park, families, volunteers, community leaders and partner organizations gathered around that idea in a visible way.

Jaime Navarro, the group’s president, framed the planting as a way to honor roots, history and love for Venezuela while thanking the City of Sanford for welcoming the community and supporting its work. The message carried extra weight in Sanford, where the city’s population grew from 61,051 in the 2020 Census to an estimated 67,483 in 2025, and where 17.1% of residents were foreign-born. Seminole County’s 2025 population estimate was 491,884, and 15.1% of county residents were foreign-born.

The organization’s footprint in Sanford extends beyond a single ceremony. ProPublica’s nonprofit records identify Venezolanos en Sanford as a Florida tax-exempt organization with Jaime J. Navarro Oquendo as the registered contact. Local coverage has also noted that the group won the City of Sanford adult softball men’s league in 2024, with Navarro and Cesar Perez, adding another layer to its presence in the city’s public life.

The Araguaney itself carries a long national history. Scientifically known as Handroanthus chrysanthus and formerly classified as Tabebuia chrysantha, it was formally declared Venezuela’s national tree in 1948 and is known for its bright yellow blossoms. Planted in Groveview Park, it became more than a symbol from afar. It became part of a Sanford park used by residents, and part of the city’s shared landscape for the people who are choosing to build lasting ties there.