As a kickoff to spring — the season of being outdoors! — TURNER's NYC Modern Outdoor team recently donated their time and got their hands dirty helping to clean up Riverside Park. Riverside Park is a green space on the Hudson River on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, spanning 330 acres of parkland from 59th to 155th Street.
The team worked with the park manager through a collaboration between New York Road Runners and the Riverside Park Grassroots Volunteer Program. We got geared up with gloves and multiple shovel options, and got to work. Our task was to help keep the Hudson River shoreline clean, as well as to remove invasive plant species from the crushed stone and garden beds.
The park crew we worked with has experienced parks all over the city and were able to identify harmful vs. helpful invasive species by just looking at the dirt.
A common invasive species we learned about are phragmites, which are dense reeds that grow along the river. Even last year, the park was overgrown with these reeds, making it impossible for park goers to enjoy the boardwalk and trails. Thanks to the help of volunteers, the park is maintained and enjoyed by city residents year-round.
It was interesting to learn how much work goes into maintaining these parks and it definitely felt rewarding to help out. The crew noted that just a small portion of our work would take them up to 45 minutes on any given day. In total, the TURNER volunteers saved one park staffer multiple days worth of work.
The passion demonstrated by the park crew was inspiring, as they shed light on the importance of maintaining these landscapes so that the community can continue to make the most of what land there is in this big city.
To volunteer, or to learn more about their volunteer programs you can email grassroots@riversideparknyc.org.