Restoration of Warburton's Pocket Park

Outputs 

• Five cement game tables and eight concrete walls were washed of mold, mildew, and dirt. Six large wooden benches were first washed of mold, mildew, and dirt; and then sanded and brushed with wood oil and sealer to make them more weather-resistant.  

• One large board game lending library was installed and is now stocked with chess pieces and checkers so visitors can use and enjoy the game boards in the park. 

• Two native bee houses were installed on the park’s concrete walls to provide nesting and overwintering sites for solitary bees. The park’s naturally slow drainage provides a water source for native pollinators. 

• Nine native pollinating bushes were planted: two winterberry (ilex verticillata), three rhododendrons (roseum elegans),  and four garden phlox (phlox paniculata). 

• Flowering rhizomes were planted (twelve Allegheny pachysandra (pachysandra procumbens) and 16 northern blueflag iris (iris versicolor)) in the open shady dirt areas and protected with new compost and mulch to bloom in the spring. 

• Seven existing planting beds were weeded and invasive species removed, plus bushes pruned as needed. Invasive English ivy was removed from the hillside trees and existing bushes. 

Outcomes 

• By caring for the tables, walls, and benches properly, we saved these items from needing replacement and restored a community space for village residents to be in nature with friends and family. During my time working in the park, several neighbors came by to enjoy meals at the tables and benches. 

• As a result of the game-lending library, village residents now have a place to recycle their family’s boardgames and reuse donated games instead of buying new items. Because the library was stocked with chess pieces and checkers, visitors can use and enjoy the game boards in the park while spending time in a natural setting.  

• As a result of the two native bee houses installed on the park’s concrete walls, mason bees and other solitary native bees have nesting and overwintering sites with pollen from native flowers and water from nearby puddled rainwater. Having shelter, food, and water for native bees boosts local biodiversity and pollination. 

• The new native pollinating bushes (two winterberry bushes (ilex verticillata), three rhododendrons (roseum elegans), and four garden phlox (phlox paniculata)) and the 12 Allegheny pachysandra (pachysandra procumbens) rhizomes and 16 northern blueflag iris (iris versicolor) rhizomes were planted to provide food for bees, butterflies and other pollinators while absorbing excess rainwater that the park has after hard rains. 

• As a result of weeding, pruning, and mulching the existing planting beds as well as amending the soil with compost, all the plants in the park have the best chance to grow into maturity and provide food, shade, and shelter for local wildlife instead of dying and needing to be replaced.  

Process 

1. I purchased supplies from Hastings Paint & Hardware, Home Depot, Direct Native Plants.com, and Amazon. 

2. I used a specialty outdoor cleaner to wash and scrub the concrete walls, tables, and benches. I brought in gallons of water to rinse the areas after cleaning. 

3. I used a battery-operated sander to ready the wooden benches which I then oiled and sealed.  

4. I assembled a lending library and pole and installed it in a cement base.  

5. I weeded all planting beds and amended them with compost and topsoil. 

6. I removed invasive English ivy from trees and pruned as needed. 

7. I planted new bushes and rhizomes. 

8. I mulched and raked all planting beds. 

9. I installed two native bees houses onto the park walls using small concrete nails.  

Lessons Learned 

• I had originally intended to remove all of the invasive english ivy on the hillside, but I learned during removal that it is covering dumped building materials. So I left some in place for the time being. I did remove it from choking the trees on the hill and pruned it from creeping into the planting beds and bushes. 

• The park has a lot of rock and debris in the soil in the planting beds. I had originally planned to install two lending library boxes, but there weren’t two suitable locations. I therefore pivoted to one larger lending library. 

• I learned that the park is very shady and damp and has poor drainage. To keep the area clear from mold and algae, and to care for the new and existing plants, adoption by an Adopt-a-Spot group would be really beneficial. I am going to send out the opportunity to local scout troops. 

• I learned that the park is used a lot by neighbors in nearby apartment buildings who don’t have outdoor space. I’m glad they have a cleaner and healthier park as a result of the YCAF grant. 

Students Involved 

• 1 Project Leader, aged 15-24 

• 1 Project Participant, all ages  

• 1 Project Participants, aged 15-24 

Overgrown and weedy planted beds. Black and dirty tables, benches and concrete walls. 

Washed and clean tables, benches, and concrete walls. Sanding the benches after cleaning and before oiling. 

The boardgame lending library is stocked with games local residents can take home and chess and checker pieces they can use in the park.

Weeding planting beds, adding compost, pruning existing bushes, planting new bushes and plants, and mulching.

After Photos

Thank You's 

Thank you to Mayor Armacost, Village Manager Mary Beth Murphy and the Hastings-on-Hudson Board of Trustees for the opportunity to bring the Bloomberg Youth Climate Action Fund grants to Hastings. Thank you to Jack Maney for his organization and encouragement. Thank you to my parents for driving me for supplies and their general support.