Arboretum Neighborhood Association

5/5/23

Hi all,

Just a few seasonal reminders:

1.  We are planning to have our neighborhood spring clean up day this Sunday May 7th at 2pm, meeting in Harvey Schmidt Park by the large artificial climbing rock.  I picked up supplies and tools from the city this morning, guesstimating about 15 helpers joining us.  Mother nature is not overly cooperating so far with scattered thunderstorms predicted for the afternoon.  We will see what the forecast says Sunday morning and if it is best to meet earlier in the day I will send a message out.  A reminder to please fill out the volunteer release form per City requirements.  Follow the link to submit the form online:  https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/volunteer/register/volunteer-work-release

Also I have heard a rumor that Leslie is bringing her famous brownies!!  Come hang out with us!

2.  This upcoming week is the last chance to set out yard waste for City pick up until the fall season.  The City is encouraging alternative ways to use those leftover fall leaves that may still be lingering in your yards vs. raking them to the curb as there has been significant evidence how this practice is harmful to our local waterways.  Read more here: Leave the Leaf – Streets & Recycling Department – City of Madison, Wisconsin

3.  Another environmental initiative is “low mow May” which the City is also encouraging as a way to give our native pollinators a strong start to their breeding season.  Read more about this initiative here:  https://www.cityofmadison.com/news/mow-two-times-this-low-mow-may-2023

4.  Calling all handy helpers!  The Community Garden in Fraust Park is in need of some repairs to it’s wooden arbor and installation of a simple gate.  Can anyone help out with their handy skills?  Let me know and I will put you in touch with the garden coordinators. 

5.  Any musicians out there?  Make Music Madison day is happening again this year all around the City on June 21st.  If you wanted to perform, registration closes May 25th.  Registration is free!  Find more information here:  https://www.makemusicmadison.org/

4/13/23

Hello all!  Summer is here now apparently for a hot second (literally)!  And with it comes yard work season!

I just wanted to alert those that are busy clearing brush and leaves about the City’s collection procedures.  Starting this Sunday the 16th, our neighborhood is slated for brush and leaf/yard waste collection.  The city will come by anytime over the following 5 days (M-F), though there is no set day of the week, to collect.  So get it all out to the curb over the weekend!  Or you can certainly wait for the next collection date in May.  Just a heads up that after the May collection date, leaf/yard waste will not be collected again until the fall, but brush will continue being collected once a month.  The City has created two short videos that go over all the details about how to prepare brush and leaf/yard waste for collection.  The videos will also review how to lookup the collection schedule dates.  Please follow the links below:

Brush-  https://youtu.be/jgZEL0o1o-E

Leaf-  https://youtu.be/VOafYX0n15s

The ANA would also like to encourage a neighborhood spring clean up day where we clean up any litter along the roadways and parks.  The City has of course been very busy clearing the brush in Harvey Schmidt Park and subsequently the litter as well.  But raking and further brush clean up can certainly support their efforts.  We can coordinate with the City for access to gloves, trash pickers, bags, and rakes.  Please reach back out to me with interest and we can start to get a date coordinated.  This is also a great opportunity to get outside and get to know your neighbors!

One more update about our parks quoted directly from my most recent exchange with Sarah Grimalkin (the Parks planning coordinator from the City):  

Parks staff have ordered new picnic tables and are busy assembling. You will see the new tables arrive in the parks within the next couple of weeks.

·         The old concrete benches and picnic tables will need to be removed with equipment, as they’re too darn heavy and sunken to be moved by hand. Staff are waiting until the ground dries up to avoid damaging the turf (or getting stuck!).

·         Staff will also be ordering new recycling bins to replace the existing concrete ones.

·         The crew that is working on clearing the brush and invasives will continue to do so. They plan to keep picking away at it throughout the season. This crew will also work on removing the old garden space [in Harvey Schmidt Park].

·         Parks will be replacing the split rail fence which surrounds the channel [in Harvey Schmidt Park]. We tried to repair but noticed the wood is starting to badly decay in some areas, so Parks is going to replace it all in one go. We’ll get this done over the summer.

That is all I have for today!  Enjoy the sunshine!