Current Projects
Columbus ArborFest
The first ever Columbus ArborFest will be held at Whetstone Park on August 24th, 1-5PM! We have a lot of work to do to make this event a success, and we could use your help. Volunteer, donate to, and plan to enjoy this exciting new large scale event in Clintonville, a family-friendly festival celebrating trees and nature.
Also: Fun. Live music, dance, and poetry. Local artists, native plant vendors, and pop-up market. “Seedling Center” children’s area with playground, special events, and Whetstone Library event programing. Local organizations and city service exhibitions.
Tour the one and only Whetstone Prairie, then meet the City Forester. Learn about environmental topics via creek science, walking tours, and expert presentations. Throw a frisbee or have a picnic in the open Lower Fields. Learn about the Olentangy River, the interconnected trails network, and beyond.
Fire Station 19 Planting & Landscape Improvements
Work continues at FS19 with lessons learned. The beautiful and beneficial native plants at the front entrance walkway have been relocated to other gardens around Columbus. Volunteers potted and lovingly gave away over 300 pots full of high quality native perennials, roughly double the plants that were planted originally. A large section of the garden will remain a native pollinator bed (foreground in photo).
We saved those plants and, as promised, opened up the front walkway path with an ultra-low maintenance design. New work continues around the station grounds in Fall 2024, after a pause in activity while the committee focuses on Columbus ArborFest.
Brevoort Park Pollinator Garden
The new pollinator garden at Brevoort Park is thriving!! Over 200 natives were planted at this city park on Indianola Avenue in May by a dedicated and energized team of 5 volunteers. The kindness of an across-the-street neighbor gave us access to water, to make sure the seedlings were well hydrated. The Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) provided us with great support, as well as plants and compost. And generous grants from Wild Ones – Columbus and Columbus Audubon made the garden a reality.
Now the garden is growing and, literally, putting down roots. It’s already providing so many resources in our community: beautiful colors & textures to delight the human senses and an abundance of pollen & nectar for pollinators and other fauna. This native garden will help provide another link in the pollinator pathway that is steadily being created in Clintonville. More and more community members are planting natives in their yards and hellstrips (tree lawns), and more native plants are appearing in public spaces — including Clintonville GreenSpot’s native plantings at Fire Station 13 and at the Ohio School For The Deaf, and the City of Columbus’ 31 pollinator gardens!
So when you’re out for a neighborhood drive, pushing a stroller, walking a dog, biking, walking or jogging, swing by the Brevoort Park Pollinator Garden (on the Torrence Road side) and check out this new gem in our neighborhood!
Litter Cleanups
As long as there is trash on the ground, we’ll come around! We do litter cleanups year-round to keep our neighborhood beautiful and clean. Have you noticed garbage on the ground and want to do something about it? We can help!
In particular, we coordinate with groups that clean the ravines and Highway 71 exit ramps.
FYI Keep Columbus Beautiful provides everything you need to organize your own clean up event!