Estella Dieci
URI Internship Year:
2026
Graduation Year:
2026
Estella Dieci is a recent Master of Environmental Design graduate at the Yale School of Architecture. Her MED research looked at how the Klamath River dam removals and restoration are redefining the region’s ecological and cultural resources after over a century of terraformation, regional water conflict, and tribal leadership. She also worked at YUAG and East Rock Shala throughout her masters. Before Yale, Estella received her BS in Computational Media from Georgia Tech, interned at MoMA, served on the Americorps St. Louis Emergency Response Team, helped launch a nonprofit teaching regenerative design and earthen construction in West Texas, and worked in disaster response, conservation, and various organizations combining design, community, and the environment. She is also an avid backpacker, yoga student, and meditator, and enjoys all outdoor recreation and art.
Group
New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence
Greenspace Log
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07/16/2026 |
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The group at Dover Beach planted two sedums and mulched in the garden to the entrance of the Fair Haven neighborhood. We also placed an invasive species sign at the intersection of Front and Del Rio streets, near the butterfly garden. |
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07/14/2026 |
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The Mill River Trail team met at the Pocket Park section of the Mill River Trail at the intersection of Exchange Street and Haven Street. We added mulch around young trees and watered all of the recently planted trees along the trail. Huge thank you to City Seed for sharing their water! From there, we visited the Grand Street section of the trail to discuss plans for planting trees and perennials over a large area where knotweed was recently cleared. |
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07/14/2026 |
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The Friends of Edgewood Park team finished planting perennials at the gazebo garden for the season. We planted three dwarf inkberry plants and three russian sages. It was a beautiful, sunny day, and a summer camp ended up joining in to help mulch! |
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07/11/2026 |
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The volunteers at Monitor Square Park watered trees and plants, reviewed design plans, and dug up space for a new, small butterfly garden by the entrance of the park! |
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07/09/2026 |
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The Friends of Dover Beach team prepared a garden bed for planting and mulching next week. We worked on weeding and maintenance at a third small, pollinator garden near the entrance of the Dover Beach neighborhood along the intersection of Front and Middletown. |
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07/08/2026 |
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The team at Fairmont Park enjoyed a beautiful work day with clear skies. The weekend's rain gave much needed support to the parks' trees and plants, and the weather was cooler than it had been all summer. The group removed invasive burning bush, multiflora rose, honeysuckle, and vines and cleared space to allow vital, native tree and plant species to grow in the understory surrounding a garden bed. The team was excited to see the ground was broken on the much anticipated natural playground and splash pad that is incoming in Fairmont Park, and looks forward to seeing what comes next! |
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07/07/2026 |
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Four regular volunteer stewards with the Mill River Trail team worked on trail clearing, removing invasive species, and general maintenance along the stretch of trail near the Grand Street Entrance. The team is excited to plant new perennials and end the evening with a celebratory meal after its next work day. |
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07/07/2026 |
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The Friends of Edgewood Park team tackled trail clearing along a path leading to the Mid Bridge in Edgewood Park following a weekend of rain. The path is now passable, and the team also removed invasive mustard seed along the trail, and cleared space for a River Birch tree that was planted only a few years prior. There was a light drizzle and the park is particularly green after a rainy weekend. |
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06/27/2026 |
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This morning at Monitor Square the group planted two agastache in the central garden bed under the statue to fill in spaces that had not been filled. The team also mulched and weeded around five trees, collected garbage, and watered all of the trees and garden beds. |
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06/27/2026 |
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New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
The family of Marlene Pratt, one of the founders and leaders of the Botanical Garden of Healing, joined other volunteers for an annual family work day. Three generations of family members were present. The rain held off, and the team at the Botanical Garden was able to weed several garden beds throughout the site, as well as spread several yards of gravel to better define the existing trail system along the west side of the river. |
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06/26/2026 |
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After rescheduling for rain, a small group came to Dover Beach Friday afternoon to plant eight perennials in the Butterfly Garden! We planted sedum, coreopsis, and coral bell, and weeded and mulched the garden bed. |
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06/24/2026 |
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Joined by four volunteers from Medatronics, the group at Fairmont Park cleared a significant amount of burning bush from Fairmont Park's northwestern slope! The team also hung native plants signs and URI's Chris Ozyck finalized a few things for the benches. |
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06/23/2026 |
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Despite a rainy forecast, the Friends of Edgewood Park had a very productive planting day! We planted 24 new perennials in the gazebo garden -- 6 agastache, 6 laitrus, 6 penstemon, and 6 russian sages. |
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06/20/2026 |
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New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
The Botanical Garden of Healing volunteer group spent the morning watering all of the garden beds and weeding in the garden beds along the west side of the river. The group also made a plan for a gravel pathway to go accentuate the existing trail. |
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06/20/2026 |
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We weeded and mulched throughout the existing garden beds, watered trees, and added mulch around the trees at Monitor Square. We also made plans for a new pollinator garden near the site’s entrance! |
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06/19/2026 |
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Dover Beach group leader Christel worked on weeding and mulching in the butterfly garden, and made plans for future plantings for the garden in the next week! |
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06/17/2026 |
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Joined by Chris Ozyck, the team at Fairmont Park installed three new stone benches! There are two near the entrance gardens and one along the trail. |
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06/16/2026 |
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The Mill River Trail volunteer team removed knotweed along the trail near the Grand Street entrance. This section of the trail has incredible biodiversity and has been significantly improved by prior years of efforts by the Mill River team, serving as a source of inspiration for other areas that remain more overtaken by invasive plants. The team also discussed possible plans for new plantings in July! |
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06/16/2026 |
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The group at Edgewood park planted twelve perennials in the Gazebo garden and continued maintenance by the mid bridge. |
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06/13/2026 |
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The group at Monitor Square met to complete weekly maintenance at Monitor Square Park. They watered trees, collected trash, and spread mulch. |
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06/11/2026 |
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The team at Dover Beach weeded and mulched a street side garden at the corner of Chatham and Front Streets. The group bagged leaf litter and sticks and moved a yard of mulch onto the site. |
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06/10/2026 |
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Friends of Fairmont Park had a productive day moving forward multiple goals. The team divided in two. Half of the group removed invasive plants encroaching into the meadow, while the other volunteers placed stakes and signs along native plant areas to inform mowers and other park users. The second group also chose locations for three benches that will be installed at the next work day! |
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06/09/2026 |
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A small group of regular volunteers were joined by two new volunteers to clear knotweed from the bank of the Mill River along the trail near District. |
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06/09/2026 |
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Joined by 18 Stantech volunteers Friends of Edgewood Park had a productive work day advancing three separate goals-- planting ten shrubs in the gazebo garden bed, edging and removing invasive plants along the river, and removing invasive plants near the mid bridge! |
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06/08/2026 |
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New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
Common Ground High School 10th graders came to the Botanical Garden of Healing for a volunteer work day. They weeded and mulched garden beds, and participated in a tour of the site. |
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06/04/2026 |
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A small team at Dover Beach cleared a large area of invasive plants and weeds to protect native trees and shrubs , removed tires that had been dumped in the fenced-in natural area, and staked out two new tree locations! |
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06/03/2026 |
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Very productive afternoon removing invasive plants at Fairmont Park! |
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06/02/2026 |
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Mill River Trail tackled knotweed and picked up litter along the trail near Exchange Street Pocket Park. We also discussed goals for the summer and ideas to get more people involved! |
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06/02/2026 |
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The Friends of Edgewood Park divided into two groups, one tackling invasive knotweed by the midbridge, and the other weeding, mulching, and planning new plantings at the gazebo near the Saturday Farmer's Market. |
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05/30/2026 |
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John and Robin shared the work they have done at Monitor Square with other volunteers over the years. We discussed goals for the summer, and did maintenance, including watering young trees, weeding, and collecting garbage. |
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05/30/2026 |
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New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
A small group of new and established volunteers worked together to weed and mulch the entrance garden beds at the Botanical Garden of Healing. |
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05/30/2026 |
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Andres shared his history with the site at Shepard and Huntington, and discussed goals for the summer, chief among them increasing participation in maintenance and beautification of the shared neighborhood green space. |
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05/28/2026 |
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Stephanie shared the history of Friends of Edgewood Park, recent years' accomplishments, and goals for the summer season. |
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05/27/2026 |
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Sylvia shared the work that has been done at Fairmont Park over the past several years and the group's plans for the summer. Some exciting developments on the horizon include the installation of a natural playground and splash pad at the park! |
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05/27/2026 |
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New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence |
Hopkins High School Seniors held a day of service at the New Haven Botanical Garden of Healing Dedicated to Victims of Gun Violence. Pam and Celeste shared the Garden's history and their own stories. We removed invasive plants, weeded, and edged garden beds. |
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05/26/2026 |
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Crystal and Joyce led a tour of Dover Beach and shared goals for the summer! |
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05/26/2026 |
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JR and three other Mill River volunteers shared their work and we conducted maintenance along a portion of the Mill River Trail. |