MacDonald Park (Photo: Friends of MacDonald Park)
July 10, 2018 By Christian Murray
Small fences are going up near the entrance to MacDonald Park to protect the shrubs and flowers that were planted in spring.
The Friends of MacDonald Park–a non-profit group that spent six Saturdays planting shrubs, perennial plants and young trees—is now taking action to protect them from dogs, young children and pedestrians who trample over them.
“If we don’t do it, all of our effort will be wasted,” said Stephen Melnick, president of Friends of MacDonald Park. He said that $200 worth of plants were killed in the past week due to unsupervised toddlers walking over them.
Melnick’s group spent most Saturdays in May and June to beautify the entrance to the park. The group was awarded a $10,000 grant via Councilmember Karen Koslowitz’ office and has used the funds to buy $6,000 worth of plants as well as tools and equipment.
MacDonald Park (Photo: Friends of MacDonald Park)
The funds also covered two pieces of artwork at the park done by Yvonne Shortt and Mayuko Fujino. Those works went up last month.
The group, which got an average of 40 volunteers each Saturday, had to pull out old shrubs and hedges to prepare the soil. Melnick said that there was a great deal of work required before the planting.
Melnick said that the group is working with the Parks Dept to get the fences. He said they will be made of wood and wire mesh and will not detract from the plants.
The group will continue to turnout at the park each Saturday through summer. They will be watering the plants since the park’s irrigation system has not worked for the past eight years.
Artwork by Yvonne Shortt and Mayuko Fujino (Photo: Yvonne Shortt)
Yvonne Shortt and Mayuko Fujino art piece (Photo: Yvonne Shortt)
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