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Beautification Volunteers Needed: Native Plants Pollinator Garden to be Installed at South Wayne and Pettit
Sean Nolan, a Southwood Park resident and owner of Sanctuary Native Landscapes, will be installing a native garden at the intersection of S. Wayne & Pettit Ave. This investment ($1,736.50) has been approved by the Board of Directors we’re hoping that residents will be as excited about it as we are. Attached you will find our most recent rendering from Sean. This is what the bed will look like except the front rounded edge will be cleft phlox instead of black chokeberries. In order to make this garden a success we will need several reliable volunteers over the next month or so.
Task 1: Prep on Sunday June 6, 2021 at 10:00 AM We will be renting a sod cutter from Do It Best on S. Calhoun in order to expand the current footprint of the bed. We will also be moving a large boulder from the bed and taking it one block over to the Tacoma and Pettit pocket garden. Sod can be taken to any of our park strips that have low and or bare spots that need filled. Any excess can be offered to residents who may need it.
Task 2: Consistent Watering Sean Nolan and a couple of his staff members will be installing the bed within the next 2-3 weeks. Once installed it will need consistent watering for the following 4 weeks to make sure the plants are established and can survive the heat of summer.
During this time we will need volunteers to thoroughly water the installation daily (unless it rains). This can be done at a convenient time for you but the plants would likely enjoy an early morning or late evening watering. Once installed, I will send out a signup sheet where you can select however many days are able to help with.
Unless you can reach the bed with a hose from your home, the easiest way to transport water to the bed will likely be lidded 5 gallon buckets or water bladders that you can then pour into watering cans.
The success of this installation will require a large volunteer effort but the rewards will be huge! Please let me know if you are available to help this coming Sunday with bed prep.
Email us at Southwood_Park@yahoo.com.
Talkin’ Trash (and Yard Waste Bags!)
According to the City’s website, pickup of yard waste bags began May 10. That’s good news for those people whose yard waste may exceed their compost pile capacity! Here are some other tidbits of information you might find useful:
- Yard waste bags should not exceed 35 pounds. They should be placed 3 feet away from your garbage cart.
- “Bulk items” are still limited to 1 per week.
- Mattresses and box springs MUST be wrapped to be picked up.
- Recycling is still limited to your yellow cart. But if you regularly have more recycling than what fits in the cart, phone 311 to request an additional yellow cart. Free!
- Do you regularly have an overflowing garbage cart? Call 311 to request an additional cart. It only costs $2 per month.
- It’s important to prevent garbage carts from becoming “feeders” for rodents or raccoons. Bag your trash to keep it from spreading, when dumped in the truck or blowing out during a storm. Periodically hose out your cart.
- If your cart’s lid is broken or won’t stay closed, call 311 to request a free replacement.
- Construction debris is limited to 60 pounds per week. Material must be containerized or bundled in 3 foot sections. Carpet must be rolled and tied.
- The Association knows you love Dumpster Days. We plan to participate in a PAPA (Packard Area Planning Alliance) Clean Up Day this year, and dumpsters are part of the plan. Stay tuned for details.
More questions? Visit the Public Works Solid Waste webpage at https://www.cityoffortwayne.org/solid-waste.html
Happy Flamingo Fridays, Southwood Park!
Flamingo Fridays are back in effect for 2021. If you are interested in hosting a Flamingo Friday reach out to board member Nadine at nadinerage@gmail.com. If you are interested in attending, keep an eye out here for the schedule of addresses. If you’re not quite ready to start socializing again that’s okay too, your neighbors will be ready to host you when you are.
Enjoy your weekend!
It’s Farmers Market season! The future location of the “Union Street Market” at Electric Works in 2022 was announced this week, so there is excitement about the future of buying locally sourced foods. If you’re new to the area – or new to the idea of shopping at farmers’ markets – you’ll be happy to know three are a short drive from our neighborhood. All three are open this weekend, so here are your choices:
1. Saturdays: Historic Southside Farmer’s Market – 3300 Warsaw Street http://www.southsidefarmersmarket.com/
“Serving Fort Wayne and surrounding areas since 1926.
Meat/egg counter open Sat., 7am-Noon, January – March 31st;
Full market open Sat., 8am-1pm April
Fort Wayne’s oldest continuously operating farmers market, Southside Farmers Market is housed in 1926 wooden market barns, celebrated as a City of Fort Wayne Historic District. Open Saturdays from 8am– 1pmApril – December at3300 S. Warsaw Street, 2 miles south of downtown Fort Wayne, Indiana. Seasonal & locally-grown vegetables, fruit, hormone-free meat and eggs, herbs, flowers, heirloom vegetable plants, compost, traditional and gluten-free baked goods, jams, teas, cut flowers, handcrafted jewelry, soaps, crafts, books, dishes, antiques, old-fashioned lunch counter. Ride your bike or walk or drive; parking is free in the adjacent grass parking lot and on-street.”
2. Friday afternoons/evenings: Historic West Main Street Farmers Market – 1936 West Main Street
“Fort Wayne’s favorite outdoor farm market, located along the busy West Main Street corridor, open Fridays, 3-7 PM, May through October.”
3. Saturdays: Fort Wayne Farmers Market – McCullough Park, 1795 Broadway – https://ftwaynesfarmersmarket.com/
“We specialize in extensive farm foods, featuring delicious baked goods and home-made natural items, along with unique works from talented regional Artisan. Join us every Saturday during the year-round market for a celebration of our agricultural heritage and the best items the region has to offer.”
May Meeting Outdoors
The May Board of Directors meeting will be held Wednesday, May 12 at 7PM. It will be held on the Westover Road esplanade.
It’s supposed to be clear but cool. Bring a jacket and a chair if you’re attending.
Water Main Replacement Update
Here is an update from Project Manager Nick Rupley:
I wanted to provide everyone with an update regarding the water main replacement on South Wayne and Tacoma. Fox contractors is wrapping up their installation of the public water services and water main next week. They are planning to pull off the site once this work is complete. There are several open excavations waiting for their private services to be installed. Fox will be backfilling these holes as the work wraps up. Fox intends to complete all grass and sidewalk once all private services are complete.
We have two contractors lined up complete the private water services. AAA Sewer and Pinpoint will both be on site. They will be contacting homeowners directly to get installation scheduled.
As always, feel free to contact me or have the residents contact me if there are and questions or concerns.
Thank you,
Nick Rupley
Construction Contract Manager
City of Fort Wayne
City Utilities Engineering
200 East Berry St., Suite 250
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
Phone: 260-427-5576
SWAP, the Southwest Area Partnership, is administering a Homeowner Improvement Program. Historic Southwood Park homes qualify, and you can be reimbursed up to $300 on a matching grant for improvements to your homes’ curb appeal. Money is available through the City’s Investing in Neighborhoods Now (INN) program.
If you’re planning to paint your house, upgrade your landscaping, or replace some gutters, take advantage of this opportunity!
Dirt Day Remnants
Dirt Day was last Saturday, but as of late last night there is still a lot of soil left on Arlington (between Sherwood and Maple Grove), Sherwood & Stratford, and a bit left at Westover and Beaver.
Let’s find garden homes for this soil before tomorrow’s rain!
Dirt Wain. Interested?
“Dirt Wain turns residential and commercial food scraps into nutrient rich dirt. We are committed to community-scale composting—which means finding solutions that meet various communities’ needs. We keep food scraps out of the landfill where they become methane gas—an accelerant contributing to climate breakdown. Composting reclaims nutrients and puts them back in circulation in the communities where food scraps are generated.”
Check out DirtWain.com for more information.
If you are interested in participating in a “neighborhood subscription” at $12/month (regularly $15), email Southwood_Park@yahoo.com. If there is sufficient interest, we will share more information.
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