Natural resources, trails and recreation – are your spots in good shape?
Many rural places I travel to have natural resources, trails, and fun recreational things to do. You are no different. But what I do notice is that rural folks don’t recognize all they do have! Folks have said they want more things to do (for all ages). They want to make their parks even better.
You could use history as a place for tourists to have some fun. That could be a historical trail for people to follow, like the Bozeman Trail in Montana, or a story walk about local historical figures, like libraries do. What about tours of older buildings and places like railroad depots, early settler housing, or Underground Railroad locations? Every small place will have its own few historical connections.
MAKE YOUR PARKS EVEN BETTER.
How could you create small groups of park ninjas? Ninjas are those folks who slide in, do the work unobtrusively, and slide out. Trim edges, pull weeds, clean statues – and it could be adults and students!
They could paint picnic tables, build new ones, repair, or even build a new overhead shelter! Getting our kids invested in these kinds of projects is the kind of work you want them to do. It also commits them to our community and helps bring them back.
I live in Biloxi, Mississippi, and just read a comment on Facebook: “Why is there so much trash on the beach?” One person said, “Just pick up the trash around you. Do your part.”
THAT’S A GREAT FIRST STEP.
Group of people learning how to forage in Hiller Park, Biloxi, MS
HOW CAN CITIZENS HELP TO FIX UP PARKS?
Pick up trash with your friends and have fun doing it.
Organize educational events and workshops in the park.
I attended a foraging event in one of my local parks. Two people who forage and use the goods to create tinctures decided to share their knowledge. They posted on Facebook, “Come learn foraging with us’ ‘ and asked people to pay $25 each. All I had to do was show up at the park! There were over 20 people who came. It was an afternoon of learning about foraging where I lived, meeting new people, and getting my steps in.
Encourage the use of sustainable practices.
Such as composting and reducing plastic waste, within the park. Hold a workshop showing how to compost. Many municipalities supply compost for residents to pick up. Compost acts like a sponge for water and helps produce nitrogen, phosphorus, and other micronutrients needed for plants to grow. Check with your local city or county officials. There are also many sites online that can teach you how to make your own compost.
What other cool things can YOU do to help fix up your parks? (This article is a snippet from my book From Possibilities to Reality: Save Your Small Town!