Blowing Leaves in “Closed” Park

It was almost a perfect. Six squirrels (including a black morph) scampered about near the south gate as my daughter and I entered. The sun shone in a blue sky. A couple of ducks swam in the big pond while small birds sang. We shared greetings and smiles with two women walking their dogs (on leashes, too) .

Feeling really good until noise and stink of raw gas hit. We saw the dark green parks department pick up at the north entrance and a guy in red wielding a hand-held gasoline fueled blower, no bag for collecting litter.

My tax dollars at work: Blowing leaves and trash around…blowing dust, smelly and toxic fumes into the air…and disturbing the peace of a lovely day.

Imagine Sustainable Policies in Springfield

The following came in my email this morning from the Center for Biological Diversity (http://biologicaldiversity.org):

What do Albany, N.Y., Seattle, Wash. and Boone, N.C. have in common? They’re among 10 U.S. cities that have passed resolutions urging President Barack Obama and the EPA to use the Clean Air Act to curb global warming pollution right away.

It got me wondering what could be if the city council, or the “green mayor” took positive steps to make the city cleaner, greener and more livable?  Do you share the dream? http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/action/toolbox/clean_air_act/city_council_resolution.html

Would this be left in Forest Park?*

One of two pine branches wrapped in plastic tape and left to melt into the pond.

Last week when I was dealing with a sick cat and vet trips, I saw fire engines were in Van Horn. In the past they have had ice rescue drills here. Never before did they wrap pine branches in plastic tape and leave them. And so continues the degradation of this little oasis that means so much to the quality of life for nearby residents.

The bitter irony here is that this city has a self-described “green mayor” and the cluelessness about environmental stewardship is demonstrated by yet another department.

Yellow plastic tape left in the pond.

*For readers who don’t know the city, Forest Park is the crown jewel of Springfield’s green space and the surrounding neighborhood is home to prominent residents, unlike Van Horn Park and Liberty Heights.

Despoliation not over

Today is unseasonably warm (50s) with sun and blue sky, but still no peace at Van Horn. – I found the south gate open to street traffic again …two HUGE dump trucks… a man on the ground… and a bulldozer behind Greenwood School.

Fresh sadness for me today includes fresh-cut brush that contained live buds (rhododendron) and tree trunks stacked on top of logs where chipmunks sheltered and gathered acorns.

Stripping the Woods Continues

Overcast and mild, so I hoped a quiet walk might lift my spirits (illness in family). The park gate was flung wide to traffic and the trash barrel collar rested on the stone wall as I entered. I hoped the parks crew was just emptying the rubbish, – but past Greenwood School I saw they were instead emptying the park of every piece of brush that could offer food, cover or home to wildlife in Van Horn Park.

I counted more than 14 piles of brush along the way…a small yellow dozer…2 GINORMOUS dump trunks (one with a trailer) and at least 3 other van/truck-like vehicles. Needless to say, no quiet, no fresh air, no succor here.

Another note: This morning Mass Wildlife issued a public call for help with its wood duck nest box program – and I think sadly of the pair that raised broods in Van Horn from 2004 to 2010. I saw wood ducks but a few times in 2011 and no young at all.

Imagine – Vision from Chicago

Happy New Year readers! And what a fine day, too. Bright sun and 50-degree temperatures made for a lovely (and quiet) walk with my daughter. Encountered more folks than usual, – out with their dogs, kids on the playground equipment, a couple holding hands, some runners – all enjoying the park. And my buoyant mood continues…

I just read a Salon.com piece,The bold urban future starts now and one of the examples is great – Governor Quinn Announces Millennium Reserve Initiative in Calumet Region of Chicago. One of key objectives is this:

Improving the Environment by:
- Managing and restoring the 6,000 acres of natural areas that contain important high-quality biological communities and support over 20 rare plants and 40 rare animal species.
- Completing and connecting 53 miles of trails and wildlife corridors throughout the area, and promoting public access and recreational opportunities.
- Expanding and connecting natural areas and habitats in a system of Green Infrastructure.

Imagine Springfield waking up like Chicago in 2012…

Bank Robbers & Leaf Blowers

On Thursday, 12/22 I was heartened to meet a young man walking his dog AND picking up litter. We exchanged greetings and thanks, our trash bags raised in mutual salute.

Still happy about the nice young man and the fact that no “work” was going on. Rounding the loop end at Greenwood School, a whistle pierced the quiet. I ignored it (Helpful Hint for Men: Women aren’t as much like dogs as you think). The whistlew became a  yell, – from a police officer. He suggested my daughter and I might want to leave the park, as two men had robbed a bank with a gun, and were thought to have gone into Van Horn. The officer said, it was okay to continue if we “felt safe.” He declared he would stay outside on the street edge, I don’t want a gun stuck in my face, he said.

On Saturday, 12/24, a large paper sack lay across from the playground. It was torn open and a white plastic bag protruded, blood and feathers visible within. To spare a man and little boy who were feeding the ducks (and others to come) the ugly sight, I hefted it to the nearest trash barrel. — Last year and before that I have found such evidence, I suspect relates to cock fighting.

Sunday, 12/25 were nice and quiet, if breezy and chilly, however orange fluorescent arrows had been spray painted on the ground pointing away from the asphalt, ominously toward what flora and fauna yet survive.

The pond surfaces began icing and cleared, and started icing again this past week (beginning 12/26) under mostly cloudy skies.

On Friday, 12/30: Machinery noise, toxic fumes, a music-playing van and three teams of men, armed with gas-fueled blower and a rake. The city awarded a contract to ‘keep the walkway clear of debris,’ which means until there is snow, walking and wildlife watching can be spoiled by noise and toxic fumes while leaves are blown in a wooded park. I chatted with a pair of extremely polite young men with the group. I was happy to know they had jobs, but unhappy my tax dollars were funding a needless task and destructive practices.

When will the city act to remove the tires, household appliances, old garbage and plastic floating in the pond? I’ll bet 99% of Van Horn Park visitors are more offended by these things than they are by dead leaves.