Local Impact Story: Burnet Park Revitalization
Planetary impact is hard to see in real time. Local impact is much easier to illustrate. The positive efforts at a community level can lead to meaningful global change. Here is one example of Conserve at work in our New York community.
Restored 2,640 feet (or ½ mile) of local trail
Removed 25 gallons of trash
Restored 5 stone staircases to their original 1930’s glory
Removed invasive species on native plants including a white oak “champion tree”
Conserve enabled Onondaga Earth Corps to assemble a crew of 8 Syracuse area teens (ages 15-18) focused on the revitalization of Burnet Park, Syracuse NY. Established in the 1930s, the parks trials were eroded, the staircases had become overgrown with weeds as high as 3ft, the park was strewn with trash and the park's large white oak "champion tree" was engulfed by invasive species. Through the hard work of the crew, over 5 weeks, 5 gallons of trash were removed along with hundreds of buckhorn bushes and other invasive species. The crew also installed hillside terracing systems to prevent further erosion. The result: the park is restored to it's 1930s grandeur and portions of the trial, that no longer existed due to overgrowth, are walkable again for everyone to enjoy.
“I used to traverse this trail daily as a kid, and I have never seen it look as good as it does now, thank you.” - Local Resident
Burnet Park Before & After
Our Partners
ONONDAGA EARTH CORPS
The mission of the OEC is to empower youth to be active participants in creating positive change for their communities and the environment. Conserve is looking forward to doing just that!
We have sponsored 2 projects with Onondaga Earth Corps to clean-up downtown Syracuse.
In 2020 Circle K Conserve sponsored 1 crew leader for the volunteer season.