When we think of enjoying Philadelphia's parks, we usually think of spring and summer maintenance and activities. But as
Fairmount Park Conservancy park stewardship coordinator Erin Engelstad insists, it’s just as important to help "put our park spaces to bed for the winter."
The Conservancy and the
Philadelphia Department of Parks & Recreation partner with city-wide volunteers twice a year for
Love Your Park service days, one in the spring and one in the fall. The spring service day typically includes as many as 100 parks and 2,000 volunteers, while this year’s fall event, on
Saturday, November 15, includes 75 parks so far. Engelstad expects about 1,000 volunteers to turn out across the city.
There’s a lot to do to keep our outdoor treasures looking good once winter looms. The first item of business is clearing out all those fallen leaves. Parks & Rec will be on hand with cleaned-out trash trucks ready to transport all the gathered leaves to the Philadelphia Recycling Center in Fairmount Park, where this year’s autumn color will become next year’s mulch.
If you love spring flowers, you can help plant crocus bulbs; volunteers will also pitch in to plant up to 200 new trees -- according to Engelstad, autumn is a great time to put them in the ground.
Helpers will include school groups -- kids, parents, and teachers from North Philadelphia’s
Gesu School who will be working at Smith Memorial Playground.
"They’re excited to have a large group, because they want to make the biggest leaf pile in Fairmount Park," explains Engelstad.
And yes, even though it may make some extra work in the long run, the pile will be open to jumpers of all ages.
Park organizers, who will manage the schedule and to-do lists at their individual parks, can provide gloves and tools, and no experience is necessary to pitch in. Residents are welcome to just show up, but they can give organizers a hand by signing up in advance
online.
"It’s an opportunity for folks to get to know people in their neighborhood," adds Engelstad.
Writer: Alaina Mabaso
Source: Erin Engelstad, Fairmount Park Conservancy