Making a difference in Red Smith Park

This Make a Difference Day, Saturday, Oct. 26, the Green Bay Conservation Corps is inviting the community to join the group in continuing efforts to remove invasive species from Red Smith Park.

“For Make a Difference Day, the Conservation Corps is going to be hosting a volunteer event to cut out invasive shrubs,” said Maria Otto, Conservation Corps coordinator. “Those are common Buckthorn and we’re removing those shrubs to prep the area for some native seeding and planting and to continue the restoration of that woodland.”

It’s important to remove invasive species like Buckthorn, Ottoe said, to make way for native species that are more suited to the needs of local wildlife.

“Invasive species create what’s called a monoculture,” she said. “So, it’s the only thing that grows in an area. Buckthorn specifically releases some chemicals into the soil that prevent native plants from growing and just shades everything out. It doesn’t offer any habitat for the birds or any of the animals and the berries that buckthorn produces, animals will eat them but it’s more like fast food — it doesn’t offer any nutritional value. Removing the invasives is really the first step to open up the habitat to put in more native plants that can benefit the wildlife and create more habitat space.”

In Red Smith Park, that process is already well underway with some positive results already being observed.

“Red Smith Park is a really great example because we’ve already done some of that first-step invasive removal and we’ve gone back in and we’ve planted native plants,” Otto said. “Now, we see a lot of really diverse spring flowers and prairie flowers, so we’ve seen an increase in species diversity. So step one is to remove the invasives, which we’ve done in some parts of the park and now we’re going to continue that. By the end of this winter, the goal is to remove all buckthorn from that park so that in the spring we can spread native seed and next summer we’ll plant some native trees, shrubs and other flowers there.”

For those planning on volunteering at this weekend’s event, Otto said it’s important to dress the part.

“We’re going to be working in the woodlands and off-trail, so definitely wear sturdy shoes — something that’s a close-toed show that people would typically go walking or hiking in,” she said. “Because we’re working with brush and woody materials, it’s recommended that people bring their favorite garden or work gloves. We will have a few pairs available for people who don’t have any to make it more accessible to everyone.”

If you can’t attend Saturday’s Make a Difference Day event but are still interested in volunteering, Otto said community members are always welcome to reach out and lend a hand.

“We have planned events, but we also welcome volunteers to come out with the Conservation Corps at any time that the Conservation Corps is going to be out there,” she said. “The best way for people to get involved on an individual or small-group level is to just contact me and set up a secondary volunteer event. We’ve done that with Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts and neighborhood associations or just high school students individually who want some volunteer service hours. We’re very accommodating for people to come out and help the crew because every set of hands is a huge, huge help.”

Learn more about the Green Bay Conservation Corps Make a Difference Day on the Green Bay Conservation Corps Facebook page.