Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Board seeking volunteers to assist with projects at Waukon City Park

Members of the Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Board are making preparations for a busy summer, and as they begin the hiring process for summer employees, they are also making a list of things that need to be readied for a busy summer season. Recalling all the work that inmates from Luster Heights accomplished in the past and knowing that these employees won’t be back any time soon, if ever, due to State budget cuts and the closing of that facility in Allamakee County, the board hopes to get additional assistance for the current volunteer base.

The Community Pride Committee, Trees Forever Committee, Hospital Nurses Association and individual project volunteers who are already devoting time to various projects and tasks could use extra help from more local volunteers. By planning projects and tasks now that volunteers can undertake over the summer, they are hopeful that people inclined to help can arrange their time to both cover their own personal plans and events and still have time to help keep the Waukon City Park beautiful, functioning and safe.

Longtime park volunteer Joe Cunningham has been working the last seven years to rid the park woodlands of invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle shrubs. With the help of other volunteers, over 50 tons of biomass (shredded branches and leaves) have been removed. Working this past fall with the local Boy Scout troop, Cunningham noticed significant new growth of those invasive species.

The first step towards getting that growth under control was a forest floor burn, which was conducted late last fall. “One person just can’t keep ahead of these plants,” Cunningham stated.

The park prairie area south of Eleventh Avenue SW, where the 5 Bridges Trail and Ridge Trail are located, needs a lot of attention, according to Cunningham and Waukon Park, Recreation and Wellness Center Director Jeremy Strub. Strub would like to see enough volunteers to assist with woodland and prairie work to get these areas where they need to be.

“Our salaried crew of three or four workers has all it can do to keep ahead of the mowing, trash collection and machinery maintenance,” Strub offered. “Volunteers have made a very positive impact in these areas and we hope to keep them and some newcomers busy this summer. There are so many things we can do to make our park more beautiful and functional than it is with just a little more assistance. The wildflower rain gardens need some work and some assistance with tree planting would also be appreciated.”

Strub indicated that more roles for volunteers will be identified as the board develops projects and tasks for the summer. “The board appreciates the volunteers and their dedicated service to park projects,” Strub shared.

People interested in volunteering should call 563-568-0074, leave their contact information with staff at the Waukon Wellness Center or email Jeremy Strub at director@waukonwellness.com. As spring unfolds, the Waukon City Park staff will be contacting volunteers.