The Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation Foundation successfully hosted its fourth annual Earth Day Clean-Up & Beautification event recently at Mianus River Park, bringing together approximately 30 volunteers committed to preserving one of the region’s most treasured natural resources.
Residents, students and community partners gathered at the Cognewaugh Street entrance, where the morning began with Dr. Greg Kramer, town of Greenwich tree warden and superintendent of parks and trees, outlining the day’s activities and sharing the importance of native planting. Volunteers then got to work following hands-on guidance from the recreation department team.
“Our focus today is on removing invasive species –– things like garlic mustard and aggressive vines that crowd out native growth,” said Kramer. “It was originally introduced as a culinary plant years ago, escaped into the wild and now spreads throughout our woodlands. By removing it and restoring native plantings, we’re helping bring balance back to the ecosystem.”
Volunteers participated in a wide range of environmental stewardship projects throughout the park. The morning’s efforts included planting approximately 30 new trees, building on the nearly 150 trees planted over the past three years, along with planting native perennials such as lizard’s tail, native pachysandra and cucumber magnolia to support long-term habitat restoration. Volunteers also focused on removing invasive species, including garlic mustard, wisteria, barberry, and winged euonymus, as well as cutting back aggressive climbing vines that threaten the health of the park’s trees.
“These plantings are part of a broader, long-term effort,” Kramer said. “Each year, we continue to move through the park restoring and strengthening it section by section. The goal is to diversify the forest and ensure there is a new generation of trees coming up behind the ones we’re losing to disease and environmental stress.”
Brandon Gospodinoff, town of Greenwich park foreman, noted the broader impact of the tree planting efforts: “We are planting 28 trees in total, all marked with flags, focusing on a mix of species, including oaks, hickories, hornbeams and cucumber magnolia. The goal is to diversify the forest. We’re losing trees to disease and environmental stress and with more sunlight reaching the forest floor, invasive species move in quickly. By planting now, we’re helping regenerate a healthier, more resilient forest.”
Volunteers also assisted in trail maintenance, including lining pathways with natural materials and clearing debris to improve accessibility and preserve the park’s natural landscape.
“Each year, we move further and further down the trail and it’s so gratifying to see how much we’ve accomplished together,” said Sue Bodson, co-chair of the Town of Greenwich Parks and Recreation Foundation. “You can truly see the impact – trees taking root, habitats returning and the park becoming stronger with every effort.”
The foundation extended its sincere gratitude to the many organizations and individuals who made the day possible. Kramer and Jonathan Fasone, town of Greenwich Park operations manager, whose team was on hand throughout the morning to guide volunteers, provide expertise, and ensure the success of each project.
Mianus River Park spans 391 acres across Greenwich, Stamford, and the state of Connecticut, serving as one of the largest preserved natural areas in lower Fairfield County. The annual Earth Day event continues to play a vital role in maintaining and enhancing this shared community asset.A group of people standing in the woods
