2010 Report for Lenzi Park

Year

2010

Number of volunteers

89

Total volunteer hours

543

Number of events

16

Number of trees planted

0

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n/a

Number of shrubs planted

6

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2 variegated red twig dogwood, 4 ilex glabra

Number of perennials planted

165

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61 various native perennials, 50 liriope, 12 pachysandra, 6 gaultheria, 4 iris, 3 yucca, 4 ferns, 25 others

Yards compost spread

1.50

Yards mulch spread

1.00

Summary

The Friends of Lenzi Park formed in 2001 and in the initial years of participating in the Greenspace program undertook major projects. Over the past four years they have remained a small and dedicated group whose main focus has been on planting native perennials and stewardship of the park as an Emeritus group. Their goals have included weeding, mulching, pruning, and some replacement planting, as well as lowering the height of vegetation in front of the mural in order to eliminate its use as a screen for illegal activities. In 2010, a long-term goal of recovering an area along Jefferson Street was undertaken as the City of New Haven made a commitment to provide additional funding support. The goals included the removal of concrete stools that served as tables and benches under a double row of Honeylocusts between the park and Grand Avenue, which had become a site for illegal activities and was often littered with empty liquor bottles and other waste. The removal of the concrete stools was accompanied by the removal of surrounding concrete paving. As this was accomplished, the group spread topsoil, compost, and mulch over the newly exposed ground, and planted perennials at each end of the new planting bed, including two very large concrete planters. In addition, the mural, which was originally designed by Tony Falcone and painted by volunteers from Friends of Lenzi and Project Apoyo in 2003 was re-painted by a group of Hopkins High school student volunteers in June. The group also restored the path that runs through the center of the park by spreading a layer of stone dust over the gravel. They planted more Black-eyed Susan flowers under trees in park, weeded and mulched the entire park, removed invasive vines on the fence, and once again reduced the height of vegetation in front of the mural as well. One of the other major accomplishments of the group this year was the transition of leadership of the group from Sarah Ohly, who has led since 2001, to Britton Rogers, who joined the group this year and brings renewed energy and excellent skills and ideas to the project.

Other activity

14 yards of stone dust for paths, planters, moved bollards to new locations, repainted the mural, removed ~3000sq.ft. of concrete and opened up tree pits that were filled with truckloads of topsoil provided by the Parks Dept. and planted with native perennials