Your chance to give back to Van Vorst Park (we need your help)

[parkman]

The Friends of Van Vorst Park is seeking volunteers to help with a fall clean up and bulb planting for next spring. We will be removing leaves from the flowerbeds, adding mulch, and planting 1000 bulbs within the gardens.

We’ll meet at the gazebo on Saturday, November 1st at 10am and be available until 3pm…tools, gloves, and direction will be provided.

Please join your neighbors in getting Van Vorst Park ready for spring…we can’t do this alone.

Hope to see you there,

parkman

[parkman]

Parkman, the park is looking really gorgeous lately 

I've been wanting to ask you what possibly could be considered a silly question: Is there any poison ivy or poisonous berries in any of the gardens. My 2 year old is obsessed with prancing through the stone paths in the two gardens and he's even been known to pick a berry or two. Besides looking out for broken glass, drug paraphenalia (sp?) and doog poops, just wondering if I should be worried about any dangerous plants.

Thanks, A very grateful neighbor

Certainly not a silly question, we have the same concerns you have about safety.  All the varieties we have planted are not poisonous to humans or dogs, the pet free lawns are actually organically grown and maintained. That said, we did have some poison ivy in the small garden west of the gazebo that boarders the flag pole lawn. I think I got it all but I would keep the kids out of that section. The two gardens with the paths running through them are defiantly safe, but again, I wouldn’t suggest letting them eat any of the leaves. Shortly, there will be edible black raspberries in the small garden just north of the gazebo by the center walkway. All other berries such as those found on the holly bushes should not be eaten.

And, it always is gratifying to know that others appreciate what you are trying to accomplish in an urban setting.

Thank you,

parkman

[kitten]

Parkman, the park is looking really gorgeous lately 

I've been wanting to ask you what possibly could be considered a silly question: Is there any poison ivy or poisonous berries in any of the gardens. My 2 year old is obsessed with prancing through the stone paths in the two gardens and he's even been known to pick a berry or two. Besides looking out for broken glass, drug paraphenalia (sp?) and doog poops, just wondering if I should be worried about any dangerous plants.

Thanks, A very grateful neighbor

[RB]

the new sod looks great, btw.

Yes, it's great, really, really great... FOR MY DOG TO POOP ON!

It’s too bad you find that comment even remotely humorous.

Haha, yeah sorry i attempted humor on such a SERIOUS topic. As nikki pointed out, you must not be familiar with the one they call Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. Lighten up.

Not to put a fine point on it, but after you spend a few hours working in the park and find yourself stepping in unpicked up dog poop time and again, you may understand why I no longer respond lightly to even the suggestion of letting your dog go on a pet free area. Not everyone may get your humor references; there are a number of dog owners who have attitudes that follow your “humorous” comment.

I understand. As always, thanks for the work you do for the park. I appreciate it and also abhor those irresponsible dog owners.

[parkman]

the new sod looks great, btw.

Yes, it's great, really, really great... FOR MY DOG TO POOP ON!

It’s too bad you find that comment even remotely humorous.

Haha, yeah sorry i attempted humor on such a SERIOUS topic. As nikki pointed out, you must not be familiar with the one they call Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. Lighten up.

Not to put a fine point on it, but after you spend a few hours working in the park and find yourself stepping in unpicked up dog poop time and again, you may understand why I no longer respond lightly to even the suggestion of letting your dog go on a pet free area. Not everyone may get your humor references; there are a number of dog owners who have attitudes that follow your “humorous” comment.

[RB]

the new sod looks great, btw.

Yes, it's great, really, really great... FOR MY DOG TO POOP ON!

It’s too bad you find that comment even remotely humorous.

Haha, yeah sorry i attempted humor on such a SERIOUS topic. As nikki pointed out, you must not be familiar with the one they call Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. Lighten up.

[nikki]

the new sod looks great, btw.

Yes, it's great, really, really great... FOR MY DOG TO POOP ON!

It’s too bad you find that comment even remotely humorous.

*Clearly* parkman has never seen the Conan O'Brien show or a Friar's Club Roast or maybe he would have found it as funny as I do.

[parkman]

the new sod looks great, btw.

Yes, it's great, really, really great... FOR MY DOG TO POOP ON!

It’s too bad you find that comment even remotely humorous.

[RB]

the new sod looks great, btw.

Yes, it's great, really, really great... FOR MY DOG TO POOP ON!

[skwirrlking]

the new sod looks great, btw.

[parkman]

For years, a handful of your neighbors have volunteered to design, plant, fundraise, donate, and maintain Van Vorst Park. On Saturday, May 3rd from 9am-3pm the Friends of Van Vorst Park ask you to join them and 20 volunteers from Goldman Sachs in our 10th annual spring clean up and planting.

This is also the first anniversary of the VVP dog run and we will be doing a general housekeeping and fundraising for the run. This addition to the park is also community run, maintained and partially funded. We would welcome those who use this run to come out and help us on this occasion.

Below is the flyer for the event:


Join the Friends of Van Vorst Park and your neighbors for our 2008 Spring Planting and Park cleanup, Saturday, May 3rd between 9 AM and 3 PM. Volunteers from Goldman Sachs, members of the Vorst Park dog run, and a neighborhood mother’s group will join us. This will also be the official one-year anniversary of the dog run.

During the day we will be planting new perennials and trees, pruning, weeding, painting, and doing other housekeeping for the park and dog run. At noon, the FVVP will hold a meeting to outline park goals, seek feedback and suggestions for activities, and to ask for volunteers to join us in maintaining our 19 gardens. Fundraising, publicity, and website development will also be discussed.

Van Vorst Park prospers because of a wonderful community-based effort. Your neighbors exclusively care for its gardens and any help, whether for an hour a week or taking over one of the gardens for the year, would be much appreciated. No experience is necessary, just the desire to help keep our park beautiful. We will teach you as much as you want to learn and provide all the garden tools you may need.

By Spring Planting Day we should have in place: a new tree bench in the dog run (donated by a community member), the completion of the decorative garden fence around the run, repair of the damaged garden fences mid-park, and a protective fence around the pet free lawn next to the children’s playground near Barrow St. This protective fence is the first step toward adding a new lawn and in-ground sprinkler system to that area. We will also have replacement bluestone available to be reinstalled for the path behind the dog run and Montgomery St.

Subia’s will serve a healthy lunch and there will be live music throughout the day. Discount gift certificates will be given out from Canis Minor to participating dog owners.

Make new friends, meet new ones, and be part of a special oasis downtown; see you there!

Parkman