NW Pond Clean-Up Secrets Revealed!

Posted by GNN Editor-Momma at 7/27/2008 12:50 PM
Categories: NW Pond
Wow! Thank you volunteers and neighbors for your tremendous contributions at the NW Pond Clean-up.

Much work was done across the entire pond area, it is hard to summarize the many improvements made by the volunteers.

Secret #1 : We had fun! One of the most common comments was: “This wasn’t what I expected, I didn’t expect to have so much fun” “You need to tell people how much fun it is.” It can be difficult to communicate the fun of each volunteer event, but I can guarantee that we usually make a mess, have some fun, and improve our parks.

If you have a chance, please drop by the NW Park pond to see the difference. I highly recommend a quick walk around the pond to get the full impact of the volunteer improvements. (Special thanks to the TEXAS ROWING CENTER for donating the use of kayaks. Without their generous donation, much of the work would have been impossible.)

Secret #2: A LOT of work was completed. Here is a quick review:

  • Algae removal - volunteers netted, raked and pumped yards and yards of duck tail and wolfia from the pond. Teams of 6-8 volunteers had to coordinate moving nets, stringing them across the pond, then dragging the nets to the shore. Volunteers on the shore used asphalt rakes to pull the algae to shore, where it will dry out and be removed by PARD at a later date.

  • Cleared cattails and vines growing over the cliff-side. Volunteers had to work from kayaks, or the base of the cliff to remove the overgrowth, and then use the kayaks to ferry the clippings to shore.

  • Algae removal – after much of the larger algae was cleared, a team of 4-6 volunteers worked together to draw smaller algae to a pump to spill on the shore. (It too will dry up.) Please take time to thank Greg P for his tremendous work on this project. It was mucky work!

  • Weeded and reseated the stone edging for the decomposed granite paths from the basketball court to the parking lot. Picked up hundreds of bottle-caps and trash from the basketball court.

  • Painted railing along the retention wall behind the pond. (To get a complete idea of how much railing is in NW Park, drive down to the pond.. and then take a 360 look around.. there is a lot of railing.)

    In addition to neighborhood volunteers our efforts were enhanced by a tremendous groups of students from the prestigious Telluride program. This competitive program attracts students from all over the world, these students were a tremendous asset, they worked hard… got covered in muck and paint and made a significant positive impact on NW Pond.

    Secret #3: Volunteer energy is key. None of these events would happen without volunteers. If you have a passion for Allandale Shoalmont green spaces, you are welcome to join in. Projects and events are planned based on volunteer interest. What interests you?

    Regards,

    Linnea Lemon
    Allandale Beautification Chair

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