Tremendous thanks to all who made MLK Day of Service at Blakely Harbor Park a grand success!
Much mulch was spread, many nasty weeds tugged out of the frozen ground as together we made it a wholesome and spirited Day On, not a Day Off for volunteer service and park stewardship.
Who turned out? Tim Burke and son Beckham:
“We live up the street and use this park all the time, so we wanted to give a little bit of our time to help out the park that we frequent,” Tim Burke said. “Our family runs here, we play on the beach, we swim in the water. It’s a special place.”
And Liz Springer:
“It’s one of my New Year’s resolutions, to volunteer in parks more, because I use the trails,” she said. “And I really hate invasives. I have them in my own yard, the ivy and vines, so there is some extra satisfaction in pulling it.”
And so many more!
Some stats for the day, courtesy of Morgan Houk at Bainbridge Metro Parks: 115 hardy volunteers, 30 yards of wood chips spread for weed suppression and native plant health, 100-plus wildflower seed bombs rolled, 8 yards of ivy, blackberry and spurge laurel and more removed, and a healthy quantity of hot drinks and treats gobbled up.
All this, on a morning when the mercury needed a stepladder to climb out of the 20s.
Islanders’ dedication to this spectacular shoreline park is truly inspiring.
We are so grateful to partner the Bainbridge Metro Parks team, our MLK Day volunteers and indeed, the many friends and neighbors of Blakely Harbor who turn out to stewardship events throughout the year to transform and restore the park environment.
