Friends of Brown Street Park April Update

April 2010 NewsByte

• Earth Day
• Breaking Ground for Community Garden
• Fitness Expo and Classes at the Park
• Volunteers Needed for New Things in the ParkSummer Concert Series Tuesdays in JulySpring Schedule
• Recycling Changes
• Movies

Earth Day

Join us for our 3rd Annual Friends of Brown Street Park Earth Day Cleanup and Celebration, Saturday, April 24 from 1:30-4:00. There will be lots of music (Joe's Backyard Band), snacks, work for everyone, and fun fitness activities for children (Mt Hope/East Side YMCA). We will also have friends from Trees 2020 (if you're looking for a low-priced tree for your curb or yard these are the go-to folks) to share information about how to purchase trees. We will also be breaking ground for the new Community Garden and planting trees throughout the park. We are grateful to our sponsors Whole Foods University Heights, Mt Hope/East Side YMCA and Green and Cleaner dry cleaning on Elmgrove Ave (www.greenandcleaner.com).

Breaking Ground for Community Garden

We are working with the City of Providence to open the organic Community Garden in the Northeast corner of the park this Spring! Eamon Brown and Kate Bothe are coordinating this incredibly exciting effort. Send us your name by April 15th to be included in the lottery if you have a strong interest. There is a sliding fee (initial buy in is $100 and annual fee is $50 max). Let Kate Bothe know if you are interested in a plot (1/2 plots are also available) or volunteering to build the supports for the garden beds (communitygarden@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org).

Fitness Expo and Classes at the Park

Join us for a Fitness EXPO on Saturday May 8th from 10:00-11:30. Local fitness organizations and our core fitness sponsor, (East Side/Mt Hope YMCA) will be demonstrating different ways to use the new and old teen/adult fitness equipment as well as the BSP grounds to get an amazing workout. The East Side/Mt. Hope YMCA will also be organizing activities/games for kids during this time. We are thrilled to welcome Kara Kelley (fitness@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org) as our new fitness programming coordinator. We are also excited to announce free fitness classes and free childcare for this Spring and Summer sponsored by the East Side/Mt Hope YMCA. Improvements to the old equipment will be completed this spring. Our new schedule and registration instructions will be posted on the website and Facebook on April 24.

Volunteers Needed for New Things in the Park

Our friends at Site Specific LLC (www.sitespecificllc.com) will be working with us to install new toddler equipment soon (using repurposed and eco-friendly materials). We will also be working with our partners at CVS to install new signage and improve the curb appeal of the park. If you are interested in helping, please email Dan dan@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org.

Summer Concert Series Tuesdays in July

Yippy. We were awarded a Providence Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative grant to sponsor our Summer Concert Series. Please let David and Carolyn Beal (Concerts@friendsofbrownstreetpark.org), our new Summer Concert Series Coordinators, know if you are interested in volunteering. All concerts will be held every Tuesday in July (6,13,20 and 27th) and will focus on music for all ages. Whole Foods University Heights will be our major sponsor.

Spring Schedule

Look for CVS Playdates, Athenaeum Story Hour, Fitness classes and much more starting in June. More info on our website.

Recycling Changes

Thanks to Brown University and our new friends at Waste Haulers (www.wastehaulers.net), we will have toters in the park in which you can deposit all recyclables (paper, plastic, glass).

Movies

We are working on bringing you movies in the park. In the meantime, If you are looking for things to do with the whole family in April, check out the 3 part series about sustainable living sponsored by Whole Foods Market including a free showing on April 10th at 1:00 Providence Public Library Dwontown, Children's Film Festival favorite, What's on Your Plate.Details at www.letstakeourplates.com