By VASHTI HARRIS
Staff Writer
SOUTH RIVER The Friends of the South River Parks and Spaces Reimagined are hosting their first Earth Day Park Cleanup, inviting residents to join them in helping to “clean up and green up” one local park.
This year, the two groups have joined forces to clean up one of the borough’s notable recreational areas, Dailey’s Pond Park, located on East Prospect Street, beginning at 9 a.m. April 22.
Gloves, rakes, leaf bags, grabbers, water and snacks will be donated by South River Clean Communities and South River’s Public Works Department, according to a statement provided by Spaces Reimagined.
“The Dailey Pond cleanup for Earth Day [allows] for an intersection of goals. It was a win-win in that it allowed multiple groups to come together, build communication channels and put in a good day’s work to make a great South River space even better. Its also is a great way to build a new South River tradition centered on community service and care for our local ecosystem,” said John Costello, a volunteer for both organizations and board member of Space Reimagined.
Spaces Reimagined and the Friends of the South River Parks are both volunteer, resident-centered groups both established in the spring of 2016.
The Friends specifically look at ways to support the public parks system in South River. Spaces Reimagined looks to create community and culture through the cultivation of public spaces. This is done by addressing public needs, educating residents and coordinating efforts as well as some hard labor in improving existing spaces, according to Costello.
Costello says that during the cleanup, the Friends will be working alongside the borough’s new Green Team.
“We just worked with the South River High School’s Interact Club on a chair painting project that restored furniture for use in public spaces. At the Earth Day cleanup, we’ll be working alongside the borough’s new Green Team with some communication on environmental issues in the borough and the Shade Tree Committee on a emerald ash borer prevention to help save our shade trees. We will also be assisting a local Girl Scout on the unveiling of her Gold Award park improvement project,” Costello said.
Residents who plan on participating in the cleanup should wear closed toe shoes and work clothes, according to Costello.
There is no rain date for this event.
For more information about the Friends of the South River Parks, visit the group’s page on Facebook.
For information about Spaces Reimagined, visit www.spacesreimagined.org.
Contact Vashti Harris at [email protected].