Blake Street Pocket Park

2020 Greenspace Report

The Blake Street Pocket Greenspace has a group of dedicated stewards and caring community members. They set out early on in the summer to build a small food pantry in the front of the garden to support neighbors during the pandemic. The group spent most of the summer keeping the food pantry filled and making sure that their trees and perennials survived the hot and dry summer by taking turns with regular watering and some weeding. In late August the team worked together (practicing social distancing and mask wearing) to do some substantial maintenance and add perennials and shrubs to the “islands” of gardens surrounded by the interlocking footpaths. The group was led by sisters Genese Clark and Patrice Antoine with support from their family, local youth, and neighboring YOW Greenspace’s leaders Chris McDaniel and Susan Klein. They regularly communicated by email and shared photos of the garden and the volunteers to keep the community spirit lifted and recognize the successes of the garden and its stewards.

2020 Accomplishments

• 2 shrubs planted
• 11 perennials planted
• 0.5 yards mulch spread
• 2 events
• 10 volunteers
• 30 volunteer hours