Out In The Open (Space): Updates for Week of April 12, 2021
April 9, 2021
There are plenty of opportunities for you to get involved in planting, removing invasive species and making sure your neighborhood open space stays beautiful.
Here’s what’s going on this week in Open Space:
- There will be a new metal swing frame going in at LR-20 Bird Race tot lot in Long Reach this week, replacing the wooden swing set that is currently out of service. The chin up bars will need to be removed to make sure the new swing is compliant with current safety standards. This project should start Monday and last about five days, weather permitting.
- Ever wonder how our Open Space team prepares for spring and summer? This video gives you a look into that process and all of the work that goes into making sure open space is ready for the nice months ahead.
- There are two Pull & Plant events coming up this week. The first will happen on Saturday, April 17, in Wilde Lake. The group will meet at 10am at the Snowy Reach tot lot. Anyone interested in volunteering should email Bess Caplan at besswlvb@gmail.com. A Pull & Plant event will also take place in Hickory Ridge on Sunday, April 18. Space is limited in order to adhere to capacity and distancing guidelines.
- Trained Adopt a Spot volunteers in Wilde Lake will lead a plant removal effort on Saturday, April 24, at Wilde Lake Park. Participants should meet in the Wilde Lake Park main parking lot near the picnic tables at 9am. Make sure you dress appropriately for working in outdoor conditions and bring sturdy gloves.
open space update april 5Click here for more information on CA’s Adopt a Spot program.
- Columbia Cleans Day is back! For most villages, the community-wide clean up will happen May 1 (Hickory Ridge held its event on April 10). CA provides all of the materials and picks up the litter at the end of the day. All you have to do is show up ready to work. If you’re interested in pitching in, here are FB events for each village:
You can also check out this page for more information on Columbia Cleans Day.
- In about a month, you can expect large numbers of cicadas to be out and about. These Brood X insects come out every 17 years. For about five weeks, you should expect to hear some loud “singing” from male cicadas. Don’t worry. Birds and fish love feasting on these pests, so things should quiet down by mid-June. It’s important to remember that cicadas do not bite or sting humans, and there’s no reason to spray them with pesticides.
- Can you say picture perfect? Nature never looked so good. Keep tagging us in your #ColumbiaWildlife photos and CA could feature yours on our Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.
