Volunteers in Action: Restoring Parks and Preparing for Spring
Read the Kent County Parks Quarterly Newsletter here: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/KENTCOMI/bulletins/3d4fe0a
As winter fades, our dedicated volunteers have been hard at work improving park ecosystems, ensuring our natural spaces remain healthy and thriving. Last year, volunteers contributed over 11,173 total service hours in over 25 parks.
This winter, volunteers worked hard to remove invasive buckthorn, setting the stage for a healthier, more resilient landscape this spring. Invasive species like buckthorn aggressively outcompete native plants, reducing biodiversity and disrupting ecosystems. Buckthorn, in particular, forms dense thickets that crowd out native vegetation, degrade wildlife habitat, and release harmful chemicals into the soil. Its berries, while eaten by birds, contain emodin—a toxin that disrupts digestion and can be fatal to amphibians.
In partnership with local watershed associations, volunteers tackled buckthorn along key stream corridors to restore balance to these sensitive ecosystems.
“By removing buckthorn now, we’re making space for native trees and shrubs to grow back strong in the spring,” explained Grant Simons of Friends of Buck Creek. “That means better shade, healthier water, and improved habitat for fish and wildlife.”
As we transition to spring, our volunteer efforts shift toward park cleanups and inspections to ensure our spaces are safe, clean, and ready for the growing season. Volunteers of all ages and abilities, including groups, are invited to help with raking, playground and shelter cleanup, trash pickup, branch clearing, and other maintenance tasks.
Upcoming cleanup events include:
Millennium Park Cleanup – March 15
Kaufman Golf Course Cleanup – March 22
Palmer Park and Kaufman Rain date – March 29
Millennium Park Cleanup – April 5
Townsend Park Cleanup – April 12
Earth Day Celebration – April 22
Wabasis Lake Cleanup – April 26
