Saturday, October 20, 2012

Friends Of Carroll Park Work Hard During "It's My Park Day"

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Compost and mulch piles for It's My Park Day
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Volunteer Paul Blutter...
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spreading compost in the President Street border
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Volunteer Max Kelly
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Carroll Gardener Heather also pitched in
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Max Kelly and Gary Dolan, President of Friends Of Carroll Park
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Friends Of Carroll Park members Bruce McDonald and Sarah Sterling 
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Long-time volunteer Sara Webber
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Sarah with her daughter Georgia...
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Some of the painted pet rocks
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Saturday was It's My Park Day and as usual, Friends Of Carroll Park took part in the event by scheduling a clean-up. There was much to be done. Compost and mulch needed to be spread around the planting areas, weeds needed to be pulled and leaves had to be picked up.Little Carroll Gardeners contributed with shovels and buckets and got an opportunity to paint their very own pet rock.
It was great spending the day outdoors and giving back to the community.

Unfortunately, as usual, the same few volunteers do all the work. It would be great for some of the younger parents in the neighborhood to pitch in as well. How about it, everyone? After all, there were many of you in the park and you didn't look too busy.

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6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I see Paul at the park hard at work keeping the plants and trees in shape ALL the time. Many thanks to him for all his work.

Now, if we could get the parents and nannies to stop letting their kids use the green planted space as their own personal yard and trampling all over the plants, that would be great. And I say that as a parent of 2 small kids.

Katia said...

Paul is pretty incredible and the park would not look the way it does if he did not donate so much of his time as a volunteer.
We need to definitely thank him every time we see him digging, pruning and weeding in the borders.

As for the parents who let their kids run wild in the planting areas, I really don't know what to say. It has been getting worse. I have approached many to make them aware that their kids were trampling plants, but they just stare at you or come up with the lamest excuses.

Anonymous said...

Keep on them, Katia! If enough of us keep on people to be responsible...

Just the other day, I scolded a man for throwing his rubbish on the ground. He told me it was too far to walk to the can!

Anonymous said...

I wonder if something as basic as a few signs saying "please keep out of planting areas" would help?

Jocelyn said...

Maybe it would help if there were signs pointing out that the planting areas are not for playing in. Years ago we had our dog, on a leash, in the big area by the chess tables. We got berated, most unpleasantly, by a park volunteer. However, as there was a gate there, we honestly had no idea that we weren't allowed back there. I think a lot of parents think that since it's a playground in a family neighborhood, it must all be there for the utilization of the kids. Some people are definitely selfish and entitled, but others genuinely don't know better. Additionally, as a "young parent" in the neighborhood, I would have loved to help out but I had no idea this event was going on today.

Katia said...

There are actually plenty of signs around the park.
People just choose to ignore them.
A simple rule of thumb should be that if your kid climbs over a fence, its a safe bet he/she should not be in the border.

Jocelyn, I think the area you are referring to is where the big rock is. You are correct in assuming that kids are allowed in there and the gate is open.
However, despite the fact that some dog owners thing the rock garden is a dog run, canines are not allowed in there and are not welcomed in the other gated borders.
Nor in the children's playground areas.
(Yes, people take their dogs in there as well.)