|
2005:
Neighbors worked on the beach at Echo Lake Park prior to the annual picnic. Volunteers here are Fred Woodard, Barbara Guthrie, Gidget Terpstra, and Dick Deal |
|
|
|
In April 2009, volunteers led by project manager Shelly Griner took on the daunting task of removing miles of ivy from the grounds at Shoreline Park. The park is located just north of the Shoreline Pool. The Parks Department had kept it tidy, with neatly trimmed back islands of vegetation with good native plants. They recently cut down several damaged and diseased trees toward the back of the park.
But the vegetation islands had been invaded by ivy and morning glories. Some plants and grass had died, where had crawled up trees, overwhelmed other plantings, and was on its way to making the park less welcoming.
Project Manager Shelly had taken some training in Habitat management, and was excited to use her knowledge. For her first project, she picked the section on a small slope that faces the window to Shoreline Pool. Her goal: remove the invasive vines, and prepare the soil for planting native plants in the fall. The Parks Department provided all the soil amendments and the plants, and many tools. Volunteers worked from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 18. They brought their own tools, gloves, and strong backs. One volunteer said:
It was just amazing to watch them roll the ivy like a carpet! It took about 6-7 people,
half of them rolling it forward and half behind it, chopping the roots out of the ground.
In one picture, Shelly is pointing to an ivy vine as big around as a quarter.
The vines were ALL that huge!
Now Shoreline Park is a lovely, wooded park. It has an excellent children's play area and good walking paths. There are a few benches to sit and watch the action on the playing fields. How beautiful! The entire Echo Lake community has benefited from the work of these hardy volunteers.
Volunteers included Linda Cranfill, Tom Stegeman, Susie O'Donnell, Sean O'Donnell, Shari Tracey, Paul Moran, Ian Moran, Drew Moran, Dennis Griner, Shelly Griner, Bill Pyle, Karen Pyle, and Mary Baskin-Thompson.
But the vegetation islands had been invaded by ivy and morning glories. Some plants and grass had died, where had crawled up trees, overwhelmed other plantings, and was on its way to making the park less welcoming.
Project Manager Shelly had taken some training in Habitat management, and was excited to use her knowledge. For her first project, she picked the section on a small slope that faces the window to Shoreline Pool. Her goal: remove the invasive vines, and prepare the soil for planting native plants in the fall. The Parks Department provided all the soil amendments and the plants, and many tools. Volunteers worked from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 18. They brought their own tools, gloves, and strong backs. One volunteer said:
It was just amazing to watch them roll the ivy like a carpet! It took about 6-7 people,
half of them rolling it forward and half behind it, chopping the roots out of the ground.
In one picture, Shelly is pointing to an ivy vine as big around as a quarter.
The vines were ALL that huge!
Now Shoreline Park is a lovely, wooded park. It has an excellent children's play area and good walking paths. There are a few benches to sit and watch the action on the playing fields. How beautiful! The entire Echo Lake community has benefited from the work of these hardy volunteers.
Volunteers included Linda Cranfill, Tom Stegeman, Susie O'Donnell, Sean O'Donnell, Shari Tracey, Paul Moran, Ian Moran, Drew Moran, Dennis Griner, Shelly Griner, Bill Pyle, Karen Pyle, and Mary Baskin-Thompson.
