Tuesday, January 14, 2014

2013 in a Nutshell!

Post contributed by Anna Hersh, Seasonal Natural Resources Technician:


It has been a busy year for the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Environmental Services Team! We wanted to share with you some of our accomplishments from 2013. None of this would be possible without our hardworking staff, volunteers, and grant partners.

Because of the dedication of wonderful nature-loving volunteers, we logged 3,580 volunteer hours (1,500 volunteers). That is the equivalent to 1.72 full-time employees!

Volunteers hard at work planting native grasses and 
forbs at Bruce Venture Nature Sanctuary during our 
National Public Land’s Day volunteer event.

In coordination with partnering organizations, we used approximately $650,000 in grants and donations, including $80,000 of in-kind professional labor, to maintain natural areas in Saint Paul.

Part of the restoration work that we did at the ponds of Phalen Golfcourse 
with grant money from Ramsey Conservation District.
We employed and educated 22 Youth Job Corps members in the Eco-Ranger program curriculum and directed another 48 youth in the Youth Outdoors program, in partnership with the Conservation Corps of Minnesota.
One of the EcoRanger Academy crews tuning their bikes 
as they head to the park they are working in for the day.

We also planted approximately 7,600 trees and shrubs, 20,000 native grasses and flowers and 68,000 floodplain tree seeds.
Just a fraction of the thousands of native seeds and plants that we spread throughout Saint Paul's natural areas in 2013.

Finally, we burned a total of 13 acres at 7 sites.  In partnership with Public Works, we were able to successfully burn 4,250 lineal feet of native grass median along Phalen Boulevard.

A prescribed burn at the Phalen Park Wetland.

We have had a very productive year and look forward to many more to come! Thank you all for your dedication and support, but mostly, thank you for using and appreciating the parks in Saint Paul.