The best way to learn about what the Franklin Park Youth Summer Conservation Crew does is to hear about it from the crew members themselves. Below are two perspectives provided by members of our team.
A trail that we remulched
When I first got this job I thought I would just help clean the paths people use in the Park, but we do a lot more than that. We clean up the environment by picking up trash, cutting down dead trees, and clearing invasive plants like Glossy Buckthorn and Japanese Knotweed. We also improve trails by spreading woodchips along a path so people won’t get lost. At first, I imagined that we were going to use simple tools like small saws and scissors, but we use tools I never even knew existed! For example, we use a weed wrench, which is a big orange, heavy wrench, to pull invasive trees out of the ground.
It’s a lot of hard work, but I get a lot of satisfaction by being able to say I helped clean and save the 220 acres of woods in the 527 acre Franklin Park. Personally, this job has helped me realize how big and important Franklin Park is to our community and the City of Boston.
Rondy
This is my first year with FPC, and it’s good to know I’m not the only one who was not sure what to expect. Like Rondy, I did not know the difference between a weed whip and Cool Wip before this summer. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one!
On days when it’s really hot, the bugs are out and the weeds grow back as quickly as they are cut, I really need to be reminded of our purpose. here. Luckily, I have Rabiah on my crew.
Natasha pulls weeds from a century old gutter.
Working with the Franklin Park Coalition has significance beyond helping maintain the aesthetics of a 527 acre park. Franklin Park is ineffably important to the community in which it’s placed. It provides people of various ages an opportunity to engage in a broad spectrum of activities such as biking, golf, exercising, festivals, concerts, meetings, and weddings. Community members can spend a day at Franklin Park Zoo or even just find a place to relax and socialize.
I am proud to contribute to the prosperity of the park, however slightly. I am acknowledging the lives of my community members while ensuring that they can retain their daily activities in cleanliness, serenity and beauty. Treading through the woods with large tools and wheel barrows to uproot invasive trees and cut down weeds and dead branches can leave you with bee stings, nettle burns, ivy itches and bites up the gazoo. Nevertheless, our crew will gladly come back year after year, dedicating our time and strength to Franklin Park. This job is only the beginning of a multitude of ways in which I will be able to give back to my surroundings.
Rabiah
I am very proud of my crew, particularly since many of them see this as more than just a job. Look for more perspectives by crew members in the future.
