A rescued car battery was one of many discoveries as neighbors came out in force to clean up East Rock Park.
Rob Danilowicz (pictured) of Pleasant Street hauled the battery out of the woods along English Drive at the foot of the park. He was one of a few dozen East Rock neighbors who shared trash-pokers, botanical wisdom and good cheer at a cleanup and barbecue Saturday.
Organizers Justin Elicker and Betty Thompson touted the day as a “grand rebirth” of the Friends of East Rock Park group, which is designed to bring neighbors together around a common purpose.
Melina Shannon-DiPietro (at right), a co-director of Yale’s sustainable food project, filled a bag with her intrepid young neighbors, Nate and Sabra Stratton.
Wray Williams (pictured at right, with Greta Hotopp and Daniel Schaefer), a park ranger over at the West Rock Nature Center, came to the East side to share parks department trash-pinchers and woodsman’s expertise. (Wash those shoelaces after stepping in poison ivy.)
East Rock Alderman Allan Brison stopped by for some trash-plucking before heading off to a Green Party confab.
Indy commenter Ned (not pictured) threw out some invasive weeds, including stems of marijuana found in a dime bag. Other items hauled out of the woods: diapers, cannisters of oil, a tire, crack baggies, condoms and beer bottles.
This well-behaved boxer (pet of a parole officer) kept an eye on the trail.
Rebecca Turcio (pictured at right), aka Cedar Hill Resident, showed up with a group from her neighborhood. More troops came in for a well-attended post-cleanup barbecue — click here to see her pictures from the event.
To get involved, email Justin here.
