Lexi Smith

Lexi Smith's picture

URI Internship Year:

2019

Graduation Year:

2019

Degree:

MESc

Lexi is an alumna of the Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, where she earned her masters degree in Environmental Science from 2017 to 2019. She is a passionate environmentalist and applied ecologist with a wide range of interests. However, her main focus has been ecological conservation/restoration in conjunction with natural resource management and climate change mitigation/adaptation. She grew up and earned her bachelors degree (in Environmental Science) in Chico, California, which nurtured her love for nature in an increasingly urban environment with a community clinging to its rural roots and beloved Bidwell Park. During her time in New Haven, Connecticut as a graduate student and Greenspace Community Forester at Urban Resources Initiative (URI), she has developed a deeper appreciation for bigger cities and more urbanized spaces. Working with URI has demonstrated to her the enormous importance of community involvement in environmental stewardship and restoration at all scales, from streetscape gardens to large city parks. She feels incredibly fortunate to have been part of this ongoing process, and hopes that her efforts help New Haven be a better place for her having been here.

Group

Arch Street

Yow Street Plant Brigade (Formerly: Young Street Plant Brigade)

Mill River Trail

Monitor Square Park

Blockwatch 303

Peat Meadow Gardens

Bradley/Wooster

Greenspace Log

Date Category Photos Group Summary

08/08/2019

Planting
Planting
Weeded and mulched section of Bradley Street Greenspace.
Bradley Street

Bradley/Wooster

The group continued spreading pine bark mulch across weeded areas, and planted three more maiden grasses where there was space for them.

08/07/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Newly planted shrubs that we watered today (8/07/2019).
Shrubs
Part of the Urban Oasis and Mill River with newly planted trees!
Storm Brewing

Mill River Trail

We watered trees and shrubs before the big thunderstorm started!

08/03/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
New hose ready for watering at Arch Street!
Watering Hose

Arch Street

We continued maintenance/stewardship work at the Arch Street Greenspace, including spreading grass seed with compost and watering!

08/02/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Spreading mulch around one of the street trees at Beecher Park.
Spreading Mulch

Blockwatch 303

We finished spreading mulch around the remaining tree pits and garden areas at Beecher Park!

08/01/2019

Planting
Planting
Emily Campos planting liriope around one of the crabapple trees.
Planting Perennials

Peat Meadow Gardens

We planted eight more perennials around the crabapple and magnolia trees, in addition to watering!

07/31/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
The point garden with a fresh layer of pine bark mulch.
Point Garden (07/31/2019)

Monitor Square Park

We continued adding pine bark mulch to the point garden which had been weeded in previous weeks. We also watered the circle garden with a sprinkler that Robin brought from home.

07/31/2019

Planting
Planting
Eastern red cedar tree at the Mill River Trail Urban Oasis.
Eastern Red Cedar

Mill River Trail

We persevered through the pouring rain and thunderstorm to plant one more tree and five more shrubs this Greenspace season! Huge thanks to the Common Ground High School crew, David Okeke and Gaston Neville (New Haven Promise Fellows), and Stephen Krewson and Kevin McCarthy (group leaders) for making this happen! Great work this summer!

07/30/2019

Planting
Planting
Pine bark mulch ready to be spread on Bradley Street.
Mulch

Bradley/Wooster

We started spreading pine bark mulch around the garden area along the highway side of Bradley Street today. We also planted one of four maiden grasses to start filling in the weeded space.

07/27/2019

Planting
Planting
John and Robin in front of the monument/circle garden.
Monitor Square Group Leaders

Monitor Square Park

We planted daylilies in tree pits to fill in empty spaces. We also watered tree pits and the circle garden.

07/27/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Cindy and Josefina cleaning up leaves at Arch Street!
Leaves Cleanup

Arch Street

Evelyn, Cindy, and I (Lexi) met to plan for the future of Arch Street! After that, Cindy and I continued onto maintenance/stewardship activities. Josefina joined us for one hour to help with leaf cleanup! Before our meeting officially started, a family of five who live on Arch Street were at the Greenspace raking leaves and enjoying it! :)

07/26/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Our group of volunteers at Beecher Park and Mitchell Library
Volunteers

Blockwatch 303

We continued mulching and pruning at Beecher Park and Mitchell Library today, with help from a nice group of volunteers who joined us for about an hour!

07/26/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Woodchips slowly getting spread out on Peat Meadow Road.
Woodchips

Peat Meadow Gardens

Jody and her son (John Carlos) spread woodchips and cleaned up trash on Peat Meadow Road today.

07/24/2019

Planting
Planting
Making a "donut" for the blackgum tree.
Blackgum Tree
Making a "donut" for the blackgum tree.
Blackgum Tree

Mill River Trail

We successfully planted another blackgum tree and five more shrubs (three bayberry, two sweetgale) in the Urban Oasis with big help from the Common Ground High School crew (led by New Haven Promise Fellows David Okeke and Gaston Neville).

07/23/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Weeding on Bradley Street with Michael and Rosie.
Weeding

Bradley/Wooster

We continued weeding work on Bradley Street today, in addition to putting up a beautiful sandwich board for community outreach and engagement.

07/20/2019

Planting
Planting
The circle/monument garden with dianthus added.
Circle/Monument Garden (07/20/2019)

Monitor Square Park

We planted six dianthus in the circle/monument garden, and made sure to add compost during this process. We also watered the circle/monument garden and trees. Last, we added pine bark mulch to tree pits and the point garden that had been weeded previously.

07/20/2019

Planning
Planning
Dead tree at Arch Street Greenspace needs to be removed!
Dead Tree

Arch Street

It was a very hot and humid day, but Cindy came out to the Greenspace anyway! The dead tree we had been trying to get removed was dropping a lot of branches this week, so we decided it was not safe for children to be around -- especially combined with intense heat. It was also too hot to be very physically active, so we did not do any maintenance or cleanup work. Instead, we planned for the coming week and I (Lexi, the intern) talked with Arthur Natalino (LCI neighborhood specialist) about removing the dead tree again.

07/18/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Abel and Emily Campos enjoying some hard work clearing brush!
Brush Clearing

Peat Meadow Gardens

We cleared brush and put it on the road for Public Works to pickup. We also did some community outreach with a couple residents who live near Peat Meadow Road.

07/17/2019

Planting
Planting
Common Ground students planting perennials at Mill River.
Planting Perennials

Mill River Trail

We put up a sandwich board for community outreach on Grand Avenue, watered shrubs and trees, planted an American Linden and perennials around the Urban Oasis sign, and spread mulch around the American Linden after planting!

07/16/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Spreading mulch at the Memorial Garden across from Beecher Park.
Spreading Mulch

Blockwatch 303

We spread mulch at the Memorial Garden across from Beecher Park, as well as Beecher Park itself.

07/13/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
The volunteer group at Monitor Square.
Volunteers

Monitor Square Park

We spent the group meeting weeding, edging, and mulching the point garden and tree pits all around Monitor Square. We also watered!

07/13/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Group picture with the decorated Arch Street sandwich/sign board!
Success at Arch Street!

Arch Street

We had our first big success of the year at Arch Street today! Cindy, Roberto, and Erica were already working at the Greenspace when I arrived. They were cleaning up trash and mowing the grass. Cindy knocked on doors and invited people (especially children) to enjoy the Greenspace with us. Soon enough, there were six children there ready to help and play! Cindy brought snacks and drinks for everyone. We cleaned up trash and plant debris, in addition to pruning suckers off trees. We also decorated the sandwich board for community outreach, which the kids had a lot of fun with.

07/13/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Susan and Chris with their watering buckets!
Watering Planting Beds

Yow Street Plant Brigade (Formerly: Young Street Plant Brigade)

Chris and Susan spent their last meeting of the summer watering planting beds, moving some perennials around from previous years, and spreading mulch around the remaining tree pits on Osborne Avenue.

07/12/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Bob and Liam unloading mulch from the truck.
Unloading Mulch

Blockwatch 303

This was my (Lexi's) first workday with the Blockwatch 303 group, and we had a good time spreading mulch around Mitchell Library.

07/12/2019

Planning
Planning
Peat Meadow Road, improving slowly but surely.
Peat Meadow Road (08/01/2019)

Peat Meadow Gardens

We met with Chris Ozyck from Urban Resources Initiative (URI), Jeff Pescosolido from New Haven Public Works, Carlos Eyzaguirre from New Haven Economic Development, and New Haven Parks staff to discuss continuing issues and possible resolutions on Peat Meadow Road.

07/11/2019

Planting
Planting
Abel, Emily, and Annemarie pose for a picture with their new tree!
Crabapple Tree

Peat Meadow Gardens

We planted our third tree on Peat Meadow Road today, as well as eight perennials to go along with it!

07/10/2019

Planting
Planting
The Common Ground crew and their New Haven Promise leaders!
Red Maple

Mill River Trail

We successfully planted three bayberry shrubs, two buttonbush shrubs, and one red maple tree to help expand the Urban Oasis! The Common Ground High School students were a huge help! So were the volunteers (Stephen and Allen) and New Haven Promise interns (David and Gaston)!

07/03/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Unloading supplies from the URI Ford truck.
Unloading Supplies

Mill River Trail

J.R. and Kathryn prepared to host our New Haven Promise intern (David Okeke) and summer crew of Common Ground High School students, who worked from 5:30 to 8:00pm. The group watered Urban Oasis plants and weeded along the Radiall fence side of the trail.

07/03/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Watering perennials at Monitor Square.
Watering Perennials

Monitor Square Park

Robin met a SiteOne employee for a bulk delivery of pine bark mulch at Monitor Square, and she watered plants while she was there.

06/29/2019

Planting
Planting
Annemarie Rivera spreading compost around perennials.
Spreading Compost

Peat Meadow Gardens

Wanda, Annemarie, and I (Lexi) planted more perennials around the group's new trees on Peat Meadow Road. After that was completed, Annemarie and I met with Chris Ozyck from Urban Resources Initiative (URI) to discuss continuing issues and plans moving forward.

06/29/2019

Planting
Planting
Planting perennials in the circle/monument garden.
Planting Perennials

Monitor Square Park

We planted 26 perennials in the circle/monument garden, as well as 1 perennial in a tree pit that had some space for it.

06/26/2019

Planting
Planting
J.R. Logan and Eliza Valk planting shrubs at the Urban Oasis.
Planting Shrubs

Mill River Trail

We planted one large bayberry and two smaller buttonbush shrubs along the trail to continue filling in the Urban Oasis landscape. We watered them, as well as the three shrubs we planted last week. We planned for the coming weeks, which included marking some spots for future plantings and deciding to put up a sandwich board this week!

06/22/2019

Planting
Planting
Susan working on a planting bed.
Planting Bed

Yow Street Plant Brigade (Formerly: Young Street Plant Brigade)

Chris, Susan, and Erica continued adding pine bark mulch to planting beds and tree pits along Osborne Avenue. They also planted some perennials and one shrub that I (Lexi) left with the group the last time I met with them.

06/22/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Installing the water meter at Monitor Square!
Water Access!

Monitor Square Park

A Regional Water Authority employee came by Monitor Square to put in a meter and turn on the water! The group was very happy to have water access, and John made sure to water trees before leaving. They also weeded the circle/monument garden, in addition to weeding and mulching three tree pits.

06/19/2019

Planting
Planting
Group picture with the Urban Oasis sign!
Urban Oasis Sign

Mill River Trail

This was our first planting day of the season! We planted three bayberry shrubs (one large, two small), and watered them too! We also installed our Urban Oasis sign with help from David Okeke (New Haven Promise fellow working with URI this summer). The group was happy about these accomplishments!

06/15/2019

Planting
Planting
Chris and Susan working on a raised planting bed.
Weeding and Planting

Yow Street Plant Brigade (Formerly: Young Street Plant Brigade)

We spent our group meeting weeding, adding some perennials and ninebark shrubs to, and spreading pine bark mulch around the raised beds close to the intersection of Osborne Avenue and Blake Street.

06/15/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Point garden with mulch/compost pile ready to be used.
Point Garden (06/15/2019)

Monitor Square Park

Robin worked on weeding the point garden while I (Lexi) unloaded compost and mulch from the truck.

06/12/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Newly installed signpost for Urban Oasis sign at Mill River.
Urban Oasis Signpost

Mill River Trail

We installed the Urban Oasis signpost with help from Chris Ozyck and David Okeke. Eliza Valk provided guidance/input on maintenance of benches, as well as planting design for coming weeks.

06/12/2019

Planning
Planning
Susan and Kate with a tree at Beecher Park.
Beecher Park Tree

Blockwatch 303

This was my (Lexi's) first meeting with the group leaders for Blockwatch 303, so Kate and Susan gave me a tour of Beecher Park and the Memorial Garden across from Beecher Park. We also discussed goals/plans for the Greenspace work this summer.

06/08/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Robin with the weeded and mulched circle/monument garden.
Circle/Monument Garden (06/08/2019)

Monitor Square Park

We finished weeding and mulching the circle/monument garden, which made it look great!

06/05/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
David Okeke (New Haven Promise Intern) pulling knotweed.
Pulling Japanese Knotweed

Mill River Trail

We removed Japanese knotweed from the riverbank and tagged Urban Oasis trees.

06/01/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
Maintenance/stewardship work on Osborne Avenue.
Maintenance/Stewardship

Yow Street Plant Brigade (Formerly: Young Street Plant Brigade)

Today was our first workday of the season, and we got a good turnout of volunteers to help with maintenance/stewardship activities on Osborne Avenue.

06/01/2019

Maintenance
Maintenance
John and Ryan unloading mulch and compost from the truck.
Unloading Mulch

Monitor Square Park

Robin continued weeding the circle/monument garden while John, Ryan, and I dealt with unloading mulch/compost from the truck.

05/30/2019

Planning
Planning
Mill River from the Urban Oasis area, and J.R. pulling weeds.
Urban Oasis

Mill River Trail

This was our first group meeting of 2019, and we had a lot to discuss! We did a walkthrough along the trail. Stephen and J.R. had plenty of ideas of what we could improve this year. Some big goals were invasive plant removal, riverbank restoration, and Urban Oasis sign installation.

05/30/2019

Planning
Planning
Robin weeding the circle/monument garden.
Circle/Monument Garden (05/30/2019)

Monitor Square Park

Robin and I (Lexi) met at Monitor Square to work on weeding the circle/monument garden and discuss goals for this Greenspace season.

05/29/2019

Planning
Planning
Susan and Chris in front of Chris's house on Osborne Avenue.
YOW Group Leaders

Yow Street Plant Brigade (Formerly: Young Street Plant Brigade)

We discussed goals and plans for this year's Greenspace season at Chris McDaniel's house on Osborne Avenue.

05/24/2019

Planning
Planning
Peat Meadow Road, overgrown with Japanese knotweed.
Peat Meadow Road (05/24/2019)

Peat Meadow Gardens

First group meeting for Peat Meadow Gardens, which at that point was called Annex Gardeners or Gardens. We met with Chris Ozyck from Urban Resources Initiative (URI) and Carlos Eyzaguirre from New Haven Economic Development. We discussed issues and opportunities for improvement on Peat Meadow Road going forward!