March 10, 2010Presented by the Parkwood Garden Club

Parkwood Park Committee

March 10, 2010Presented by the Parkwood Garden Club

Parkwood Park Committee

Parkwood Park Committee

Parkwood Park Committee

•Committee Members

•Sheri Kennedy, Karna Candler, Steve Elmore, Rebecca Kerimbaev, Jim Jarboe

•Committee Consultants

•Joe Dicks, Susan Stewart, Jim Kennedy

Committee Guest Speakers

•Georgia Forestry Commission

•Susan Granberry, Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator

• Joe Burgess, Community Forester Senior

•DeKalb County-Department of Watershed Management

•Michael O’Shield, Environmental Education Specialist

Parkwood Park Committee

Parkwood Park Committee

AgendaAgenda

• Introduction

• Parkwood Park Work Days

• November 4 Meeting Review

• November 4 Action Items

• The Future of the Park

• What Can You do?

Work Days:Remove Invasive Plants

• Amur Honeysuckle

•Cherry Laurel

• Elaeagnus

•Mahonia

•Privet

November, 2010 Work DayNovember, 2010 Work Day

•25 Volunteers

•6 hours

•2 truck loads

January, 2011 Work Day

•Chain Saw Days

•32 Volunteers

•7 hours

•3 Truck Loads

Before and After Photos

Before and After Photos

West Parkwood Rd at cut through to E

Parkwood Rd

Before and After Photos

450 W Parkwood Rd

November 4 Meeting Review

Action Items•Better understand the impacts of invasive plant removal

•Prevent neighbors from adding yard debris to park

•Examine eligibility for tax exempt status

•Review insurance liability coverage

Invasive Species of Urban Areas

Joe BurgessCommunity

Forester

Susan Granbery

U&CF Coordinator

Georgia Forestry

Commission

What are They?

Any plant or animal that has been introduced and aggressively

competes with and displaces local

native communities.

Invasive Species

Where Do They Come From?• Port of Savannah (4th largest port in the US)1994 550,000 Containers2009 2.36 million Containers2015 4.37 million Containers (projected)

• Some are introduced then escape• Some are spread accidentally• Moving firewood• Undersides of vehicles, foot traffic - hitchhikers

Invasive Species

What Harm Do They Cause?• Environmental• High populations out-compete and

displace natives• Reduce wildlife food and habitat• Restrict seedling establishment• Disrupt water flow, nutrient cycling, soil

decomposition

(Source: www.invasives.org)

Invasive Species

• Chinese privet• Autumn olive• English Ivy• Japanese

honeysuckle• Mulitflora rose• Tallow tree• Cherry laurel• Kudzu• Chinese wisteria• Leatherleaf mahonia

Common Invasive Species in Urban Areas

Chinese Privet

English Ivy

• Go native! Reintroduce native plants.• Avoid using invasive species. • Remove invasive plants from your garden. • Keep volunteering! Repeated removal is likely.•Monitor.• Develop a Restoration Plan.

(Source: Georgia Invasive Species Task Force)(Source: BioOne, Oct 2010, Volume 137 Issue 4

Text

What Can You Do?

www.GATrees.orgwww.GeorgiaInvasives.orgwww.Invasive.orgwww.GUFC.orgwww.AmericanGrove.org

Web Sites and Other Helpful Information

• Social Networking• “Ask An Arborist”

Live Chat• Video Upload• Tree Selection and

Planting Tips• Benefits of Trees• Tree Match tool

AmericanGrove.org

Susan GranberyU&CF CoordinatorGeorgia Forestry CommissionStone Mountain, GA678-476-6227

It’s Your Urban Forest-learn it, grow it, maintain it, enjoy it!

No More Yard Debris in the Park

Michael O’Shield, DeKalb County, Department of Watershed Management, Environmental Education Specialist

•Impact of yard debris in the park

•Impact of dog excrement in our neighborhood

Need Help for Tax Exempt Status

•File for 501(c)3 status to be tax exempt

•Requires new by-laws

•Who has experience writing by-laws for 501(c)3 organization?

Next Workday: Saturday March 19

•Continue removing invasive plants

•Remove English Ivy from designated areas

•Remove 3 ‘dams’ from the creek

•Begin clean-up of W Ponce area

Future Enhancements•Develop a plan to enhance W Ponce de Leon entrance

•Add a path through the park which may include steps, bridges

•Ensure any additions to the park are minimal cost and low maintenance

•Plan for the addition of native plants

November 4 Meeting Review

Eliminate Sight Problem

Remove the Hollies at E Parkwood Rd and W Ponce de Leon

What’s Next for the Park

Parkwood Park 2010-2011 Budget

Description Income Expense

Parkwood Garden Club (only includes Park expenses)

PGC Income (yearly dues) 92 homes x $40

$3680

Park Yearly Maintenance $1530

Park Yearly Taxes and Insurance $285

Balance $1865

Parkwoood Park

Park Donations $705

DHCA Donation $1000

Appleseed Tree Service $1025

Balance $680

Select a designer to create a planting plan for the circle.

Traffic Circle at East Lake

How Can You Help?

How Can You Help?

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

•Fundraising

•Fundraising activities

•Grant identification and writing

•Publicity

•501(c) 3 by-laws and filing

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities

Environment:

•Plant and Bird Identification

•Water Testing

•Photography

Next Steps-Parkwood Park Committee

Next Steps-Parkwood Park Committee

•Organize Work days for the Spring and Summer.

•Garden Plan for Traffic Circle

•Continue working on long term plans

•Next Neighborhood meeting in September/October