Kensington Playground

2024 Greenspace Report

After three years of contention, the long-disputed vacant lot in the Dixwell neighborhood saw resolution on June 25, 2023. The neighborhood rescued this place to use as a place for recreational purposes. This is the second year that URI worked with Kensington playground. We have accomplished major restoration activities, such as planting shrubs and trees in open space behind the park with three evergreens, a refilled sink area, and developed a butterfly garden. We created upper winds, head and antenna of the butterfly garden butterfly feature. The lower wings will be drawn on the sidewalk by Fellowship Place. Jane Comin's leadership and commitment to developing this park has been exemplary and selfless. She showed up early to every workday, watered trees during the dry summer, picked up trash, watered the butterfly garden in the mornings on her own time and consistently plans to take the park to a greater height. She also worked hard to engage more volunteers in the park by reaching out to people spending time in the park and encouraging them to participate. Olivia is another volunteer who never missed workdays. The park is being used to the fullest by the neighborhood to relax with families and friends, use the splashpad, and walk dogs.

2024 Accomplishments

• 5 trees planted (3 Nigra Arbovitae, 1 Eastern Redbud, 1 Dogwood)
• 7 shrubs planted (1 peincess blue holly, 1 Itea, 1 Euonymus, 1 Mountain Laurel, 1 coastal doghobble, 2 butterfly bush)
• 55 perennials planted (16 catmint, 2 Gaillardia apricot, 2 Gaillardia Mesa Red, 2 Pink echinacea, 6 Iberis white and 2 echinacea, 6 coreopsis, 2 daisy, 2 sedum, 4 sage-snow hill and may night, 3 cone flower, 4 black-eyed susan, 4 dianthus)
• 0.5 yards compost spread
• 2.0 yards mulch spread
• 8 events
• 15 volunteers
• 119 volunteer hours