Friends of Indian River kicked off the month of June with a huge burst of civic pride and environmental stewardship. With help from partners and individuals from the community, 180 volunteer hours were logged in Indian River Park in just 2 days.
Photo Credit: Friends of Indian River
The volunteer effort started on June 6th with 20 volunteers from Friends of Indian River partnering with a crew from Banyan Grove apartments in Virginia Beach. Together, they planted trees and shrubs around the new parking area in the Rokeby Avenue and Main Street area of the park. Chesapeake Parks & Recreation also supported the effort by providing native trees, compost, and a water truck. And thanks to local Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent, Mike Andrucyzk, trees and shrubs were obtained from the nursery at the Chesapeake Arboretum. Several Chesapeake Master Gardeners and Parks & Recreation maintenance crew members were also on hand to provide expert advice and assistance. Plantings included a screen of Atlantic White Cedars and several Bald Cypresses (the official Chesapeake City tree) with mulched beds. Over the summer, work will continue to improve the park including new amenities such as picnic tables, railing, an information kiosk, and a native plant demonstration garden.
Photo Credit: Friends of Indian River
But hey, that was just Day 1! On Saturday, June 7th many of the same volunteers returned to the park for Clean the Bay Day, an annual event from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Clean the Bay Day is a fun, hands-on way for citizens all across Virginia to help our local waterways be healthy and litter-free. For this cleanup, Friends of Indian River had 40 volunteers descend on the park to clean up trash and litter. Volunteers came from various groups including the Tidewater Master Naturalists, the Cub Scouts, Centura College, and Kempsville Presbyterian Church. While the trails in the park are well kept and usually free of litter, Friends of Indian River President, Rogard Ross explained that each year a significant amount of litter gets washed down stream and is spread over the marshy areas of the park. Much of the litter is thoughtlessly discarded bottles, cans, food wrappers, and cigarette butts that are washed in from the surrounding neighborhoods by stormwater. Stormwater carries litter and other pollutants through the storm drains and out into local waterways. Volunteers pulled out nearly 1,000 pounds of trash from the park including (winner of the oddest item award) a 10′ kiddie slide!
Photo Credit: Friends of Indian River
Photo Credit: Friends of Indian River
Thank you to all the volunteers who helped clean up Indian River Park in June! It’s quite amazing how a hardworking group of dedicated citizens can make such big a difference in their community. Find out how you can support Friends of Indian River by visiting them online for more information or finding out more about a local watershed restoration group in your community right here on askHRgreen.