(October 14, 2002) -- Members of the Stearns Park Neighborhood Association conducted a well organized planting of native foliage in Stearns Park on October 12.

Yes, they got City Hall's OK first (don't try this without permission!) and were assisted by LB's Dept. of Parks, Recreation & Marine.

They also received some LB taxpayer assistance via 4th district Councilman Dennis Carroll and LB Organic. In March, Councilman Carroll requested, and the Council allocated, $2,500 in (now extinct) Council District discretionary funds for Long Beach Organic, Inc. "to support Fourth District beautification of parks, schools and medians with gardens and flowers." A portion of that sum assisted the Stearns Park Neighborhood Association project.

Long Beach Organic (LBO) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable organic gardening practices and local food consumption in an urban environment.

"Amy Lerner [LB Organic Executive Director] gave us LOTS of plants," said grateful Stearns Park Neighborhood Association president, Traci Wilson-Kleekamp

The bending, kneeling and stooping were community based...and the idea for the event also came from the neighborhood.

Native plants are considered desirable for a number of reasons. Among other things, they require less care and last longer.

Digital photos and info on this page come via Ms. Wilson-Kleekamp.. [If you have digital photos of your neighborhood event, email them to "mail@lbreport.com" with info and a contact phone number].

Julie Hays, chair of the "Planting in the Park" committee of the Stearns Park Neighborhood Association...

...and husband John Hays. Stearns Park Neighborhood Ass'n prez Kleekamp says the couple helped lead the planting efforts.

Ms. Hays is assisted by Erin Kleekamp and Jude Barrick, both age 5...who helped sort out which plants went where.