Restoring the River View at Harbor Park

It was a dreamlike scene. The wind carried a river of cottonwood seed aloft, flowing in the same direction of the great grey river below, as the sun provided a backlight of the tiny airborne seed parachutes. On the river young women sweat and strained as the coxswain shouted encouragement in the heat of a high school regatta. On the shore another, volunteer crew from the Lions, from Middletown and from the Connection worked up a sweat on their own, pulling rope-thick vines of bittersweet and poison ivy, and hacking through sumac and suckers to clear the North End of Harbor Park. Under the watchful gaze of organizer Elizabeth Santangelo, and John Hall of the Jonah Center, the crew made surprising quick progress, restoring a wonderful view to the weed-choked banks of the Connecticut river North of the Route 9 tunnel access to the river.

Volunteers Need For Harbor Park North Cleanup

From the Jonah Center

Reclaiming the North End of Harbor Park, Sat. May 30, 8 a.m.

Learn about invasive plants while we remove them from a prime Middletown location.

The Jonah Center calls for volunteers to help with this unique partnership opportunity that is closely related to our own mission.

Lunch and BBQ included. To make sure we have enough food, it is important that we know who is coming by Tuesday the 26th. Please reply to Lisa Santangelo at enws@comcast.net

Below are the background and details.

The Lions Club and crews from The Connection's AIC (Judicial Branch Community Service Work Crews) will be cleaning up the historic north end of Harbor Park. Japanese knot weed, Japanese sumac, bittersweet and other invasive plants have taken over the fencing and shoulder of the northern most 600 feet of the park. This screening from public view has attracted activities inconsistent with the stated "Waterfront Mission" which includes "A waterfront that serves as a focal point of community activities for people of all ages and interests throughout the year." and "Increased public awareness of the region's River-related culture and history." This area was once the landing for the ferry-boat that commerce between Middletown and Portland and the steamboat that took residents to Hartford and New York City.

Volunteers should wear long pants and shirts with long sleeves and gloves. Note that there is poison ivy in the area, so people who are highly allergic should not participate in this work day. Sun screen and sun glasses are recommended, as well as alcohol-containing hand gel to remove any plant oils we may contact.

Since we will be cutting, trimming and raking, volunteers are asked to bring clippers (short and long handled), small saws (hand, bow or sling) and rakes. (Make sure to mark your tools.)

We will have coffee and donuts at 8:00, then do a sweep of the litter before the crews arrive with the heavy tools between 8:15 and 8:30. A box lunch will be served at 12:00. We will finish the day with a BBQ around 3:30 or 4.