Photo: Roughly 50 volunteers last weekend turned out to spruce up the playground at Frank Charles Memorial Park. Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza.
The Charles Park Conservation Society last Saturday led a group of roughly 50 volunteers in an effort to spruce up the green space’s playground.
The CPCS sponsored the 9 a.m. to noon cleanup session, which also featured a large contingent of area Boy Scouts. Dr. Joseph Campisi, CPCS president, indicated that Charles Park is an approved site for Scouts in Park Day.
Dr. Joseph Campisi, Charles Park Conservation Society president, told The Forum that he plans on taking the cleanup and beautification efforts to other areas of the Howard Beach green space. Forum Photo by Michael V. Cusenza.
Greenthumbs trimmed overgrown bushes, while broken tree limbs were hustled off into waiting vehicles. Playground facilities, such as slides and jungle gyms, were cleaned and grounds swept after trash was properly discarded.
Campisi said that last Saturday marked the second time his year-old organization has spearheaded such an effort. Asked why he decided to form the Society, Campisi said he grew tired of witnessing the condition of the park from his house across the street.
“A lot of people complain—‘The park’s a mess!” he said. “I just got fed up. My house faces the park. It had to be done.”
Campisi has pledged to clean and beautify other areas of the park. He also acknowledged that it takes a community and funding. Now that the CPCS has all the nonprofit documentation in order, it can receive discretionary funding from elected officials.
“It’s great—the more people the better,” he said of future projects. “We want all the people complaining to help us out.”
Campisi also noted that his group’s attention to the upkeep of the park has drawn the praise of National Parks Service staff.
“You’ve got to show interest. Now that we’re showing interest, [Parks] is showing interest,” he said. “There’s a lot more cooperation; we need things, we get it. I feel like I have a partner in this…but we need more support. As long as we stay consistent, keep developing relationships, there’s no way it can’t work.”
By Michael V. Cusenza michael@theforumnewsgroup.com
