Restore Saint Paul: 2013 in a Nutshell!

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.

Contributing Authors

Saint Paul Parks and Recreation--Natural Resources Division:

It would be impossible for us to maintain and improve Saint Paul's natural areas to the high standards that we are used to without the coordinated efforts of our many partner organizations and volunteers. In addition to Saint Paul's Natural Resources employees, the following groups will be contributing to the content of this blog as they work hard to keep Saint Paul "the most livable city in America."

Conservation Corps of Minnesota:

The Conservation Corps provides meaningful work for young people in conserving energy, managing natural resources, responding to disasters and leading volunteers. Not only do they provide training in resource management, safety, job-readiness and technical skills, they help young people develop personal responsibility, a strong work ethic and greater awareness of environmental stewardship. CCM has been a valuable partner in maintaining Saint Paul Parks natural areas for years.

Eco Ranger Acadamy:

The Environmental Services EcoRanger Academy is an educational summer job program for youth interested in plants, wildlife and the natural environment. Youth work throughout the City in forests, lakes and prairies on restoration projects. They perform tasks such as invasive species removal, planting and mulching. The program covers plant anatomy and identification, trees, entomology, water, soils and ecology. Youth that successfully complete the summer program graduate with a certificate and references from their crew leaders.