What a Difference Three Days Make

March 31, 2015 0 Comments

by Matthew Williams

Last week, the Harrison West Society Parks and Green Space Committee launched our 2015 season of park cleanups. We had a fantastic evening on Wednesday with temperatures in the 60s and knocked out Side by Side Park in about 90 minutes. After filling about a half dozen yard waste bags with day lily beards and woody clippings, Dean Curry, Bob Mangia, Ken McRoy, Anthony Scarpelos, Nick Zingale, and I popped over to Caffé Apropos for a pint (or, in my case, a Cookies-and-Cream Crunch. Yum!).

On Saturday, though, winter poked us in the eye again with temperatures in the high teens. Still, the Timbits were tasty, and it wasn’t so bad in the sun. (I kept telling myself that.) Because Side by Side was in great shape, we relocated to Harrison Park and focused our energy there. Another hour and a half—and another dozen bags filled with oak-leaf hydrangea clippings and more day lily beards—later, Dean, Mark Hollern, Nick, Matt Wolf and I were packing up, and the park was looking spiffy. Thanks to all the volunteers who came out, but a special shout out to Nick and Matt who swept up the gravel and debris at the W. 3rd Ave. bike trail crossing. If it looks better driving or walking or biking through that area, thank Matt and Nick.

You can join us on the last Saturday and the Wednesday before the last Saturday of every month through October for more fun and good work and cocktails and donuts. Here’s our complete schedule.

Cleanup and Cocktails, Wednesdays, 6–7:30 p.m.

April 22, Harrison West Park (W. 4th and Oregon Aves.)
May 27, Harrison Park
June 24, Side by Side Park
July 22, Harrison West Park
August 26, Harrison Park
September 23, Side by Side Park
October 28, Harrison West Park

Saturdays in the Park, Saturdays, 9–11 a.m.

April 25, Harrison West Park (W. 4th and Oregon Aves.)
May 30, Harrison Park
June 27, Side by Side Park
July 25, Harrison West Park
August 29, Harrison Park
September 26, Side by Side Park
October 31, Harrison West Park

We also have a special event planned for April. A team of volunteers will plant 200 seedling trees along the Olentangy River during both April cleanups. If you would like to be part of this Earth Day project, contact Bob Mangia at parks@harrisonwest.org.

Finally, a number of orphan beds in the neighborhood parks need monthly maintenance through the summer. Do you have a half-hour or an hour once per month to weed, deadhead, and pick up litter in a small area? That’s all that we ask of adopters. If you’d like to adopt a bed, contact Bob for more information.