Friends of Brightwood Park organized six clean up days in September and October.  Over 300 hours of volunteer work has resulted in a much cleaner and more beautiful park.  Additionally, teams worked on clearing invasive species out, making way for native plants to reassert themselves.  In the most dramatic example, clearing the Japanese Knotweed from the parking area made it possible to see the lake.

Look for more opportunities to join us this fall.

Friends of Brightwood Clean Up Saturday September 26th

Friends of Brightwood turned out in full force to tackle the trash field on the southwest section of the park.

 We spread out and gathered a broad variety of refuse from items as small as baby shoes to as large as refrigerators and bed frames.  

We picked up buckets and buckets of bottles of all shapes and sizes, rusted metal, chicken wire, and even an old Reingold beer can that littered the ground.  

We used a pick ax to dig out tires and an old water heater.  

Many items appeared to have been trashed fifty to sixty years ago when the property was acquired from the Big Woods homes.  

​There is much more to do, but we are a determined crew.

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Friends of Brightwood Park Clean Up - September 12th 2020

Beautiful but beastly: Japanese Knotweed is an invasive species that spreads quickly and blocks out native plants from taking root. This plant took over the length of the parking lot and beyond extending its reach towards the pond. Our team worked for hours cutting down the Knotweed at its base. To give native plants a fighting chance, the roots will need to be treated to prevent a resurgence. Friends of Brightwood are ready for a sustained campaign to end this plant’s dominance over the landscape.

Before & After:  Tackling the Japanese Knotweed 

 
​Japanese Knotwood, a particularly aggressive invasive species, removed from the south side of the parking lot.  Now you can see the lake!