Volunteers gather with some of the bags of leaves and debris they had collected. Photo courtesy Josephine Wendell
If you notice Forest Park’s Mary Whalen Playground looking much better lately, the thanks should go the way of the 50 volunteers who took part in a clean-up of the area.
The Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association organized Saturday’s event, which resulted in the collection of more than 100 garbage bags of leaves and other debris being collected.
“In just a couple of hours, we managed to make a significant, visible improvement in Woodhaven. That’s what can happen when residents in our community come together,” WRBA President Martin Colberg said. “We’re grateful to everyone who dedicated their Saturday morning to making the playground a better place for our neighborhood’s children. Thanks to the Parks Department as well for their role in making the event a success.”
Mary Whalen Playground is located at the intersection of 79th Street and Park Lane South. Mary Whalen is a former president of the WRBA who died in 1987.
The WRBA has future clean-ups in its plans and encourages anyone interested to contact the Block Association at info@woodhaven-nyc.org. The organization’s next town hall will be Saturday, May 17, 1 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, located at 89-02 91st St.
Some of the volunteers gathered in Mary Whalen Playground at the start of the clean-up. Photo courtesy Josephine Wendell
Volunteers celebrate the conclusion of the clean-up with some of the bags of leaves and debris they had gathered. Note that the long line of black garbage bags in the background. Photo courtesy Josephine Wendell
