2020 Report for Quinnipiac River Park

Neighborhood:

Fair Haven

Type of Site:

Park Friends

Address:

Front St, New Haven, CT

Coordinates for Map

POINT (-72.8890167 41.3118429)

Year

2020

Number of volunteers

2

Total volunteer hours

10

Number of events

3

Number of trees planted

0

Number of shrubs planted

0

Number of perennials planted

0

Summary

This year may not have been one of greatly tangible progress with the Friends of Quinnipiac River Park, but it was an important one nonetheless. While the pandemic and then the tropical storm presented major challenges to the Greenspace and its many committed stewards, Tom and Noy were still able to cover for the greater group and represent its commitment to the park, the community and the memories of those for whom trees beautifully stand in love, hope, strength and solidarity. I was proud to be a part of their quiet yet far from unnoticed efforts. Together we stewarded the space, watering and supporting stressed and wind-blown trees, sprucing up the pollinator garden and helping to keep the memorial tree gardens free of litter and debris. Beyond these measurable achievements, the Friends’ gathering together also represented something, I believe. It showed that even in the wake of drought, natural disaster and disease, their devotion to the park, to the lives and memories it embodies and to each other does not waver, but is again renewed. After all, they started out in the wake of disaster—so why should that phase them now?