Strike a Chord: Bronx Kids Keep Borough's Parks Beautiful

Poster
by Rob Palazzolo | 06/18/2015 | 10:24am

Poster

It was not very long ago that the Bronx was a nationwide symbol of urban decay. A group of young volunteers, however, are out to beautify their borough, one park at a time. 
 
It was a beautiful Saturday in May at Claremont park, and about 150 local high school students were hard at work maintaining this urban oasis in the heart of the Bronx. 
 
Jennifer Asare, a junior at Truman High School, is clearing a small patch of grass of old leaves and trash with a group of friends. 
 
"It's like a community service in school, for hours and stuff--and you just, like, help build stuff, and plant," said Asare.
 
When asked how she liked the work, Asare replied, "It's good, because you learn new things every day." 
 
Jennifer's group is volunteering with the Bronx is Blooming, an organization that does park maintenance and beautifies green space throughout the borough. A large group of high schoolers like this day's group can really do a lot to help. 
 
"We've just done three months work of a full time staffer with the students, in one morning," said Jenn Beaugrand, the head of the Bronx is Blooming. "And I think the effect of that is so greatly felt," she added. 
 
Beaugrand said leaving behind a well-maintained park sends a kind of subconscious message to the community: this place is valuable. However, Beaugrand added that the mission of the organization is about more than just keeping the parks looking good.
 
"And so these students are not just learning how to take care of their own park--but they're getting first-time supervisory skills that they can then use to do anything," said Beaugrand. 
 
So kids who spend their Saturday mornings keeping their borough beautiful can expect something in return. 

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