Volunteers showed up in force on September 19 to help CBCC officials clear invasive plants and vines on Parcel 11 in Estate Carolina.
Thanks to the Coral Bay Community Council’s community volunteers and business partners, numerous undesirable and invasive species were removed from Parcel 11 Estate Carolina, a wetland restoration area at the juncture of Route 107 and Kings Hill Road.
These species were eliminated in order to create room for planting native species and opening up a planned park area.
Through the hard work of a citizen volunteer team led by Dr. Gary Ray and including Bob De Bonis, David Silverman, Sara O’Neill, Adam Weiner, Thia Muilenburg and Jay Dufur, significant progress was made clearing the park area in CBCC’s first call for volunteers, on Wednesday, September 19.
The volunteers also got some professional help, explained CBCC president Sharon Coldren.
“We asked Winston Smith of WAPA if it would be possible for Asplundh to help by removing the thorny kasha trees from the site and putting them through the chipper for disposal” said Coldren. “Asplundh’s crew — Darrell, Mango and Tasha — did an incredible job of professionally and completely removing these nasty trees.”
“We are very grateful for their help,” Coldren said. “Regular citizen volunteers couldn’t have removed these thorny bushes. They made short work of them.”
In order to help Asplundh get to a number of kasha trees, Dondi Reed and Leif Ekholm of A Few Good Handymen donated their skills and equipment to clear shrubby camphorweed from the middle section of the site.
Prior work this summer included placement of boulders by Department of Public Works officials along the roadway to prohibit vehicles from entering the area.
Additional plant removal work will take place on Saturday, October 6, from 7 to 11 a.m. Volunteers are also needed later in the month to install fencing around the site to keep donkeys and sheep from eating new plants and to provide an attractive border to the new park area.
The goal is to restore the wetland and forest areas using native trees, shrubs and appropriate ground cover, so that it can serve as a community-based demonstration of appropriate species and plantings.
Additionally, in the park a dozen fruit trees will be planted and in the future the site may include benches, a domino table, and some play structures or sculptures for children.
Learn more about the project on the CBCC website at http://coralbaycommunitycouncil.org/Wetlands.htm .
CBCC encourages people to call the office at 340-776-2099, email coralbaycommunitycouncil@hotmail.com, or stop by the office (in Coral Bay across from the fire station) to discuss the project or volunteer for project activities.
More information about CBCC can also be found at www.coralbaycommunitycouncil.org.
