Rain gardens on either side of Manorhaven Boulevard near Ashwood and Boxwood Roads were totally replanted on Saturday, June 11. Completed nearly four years ago, the gardens were not maintained by the Village, as required by a State contract. To avoid defaulting on the grant clause and possibly having to return nearly $14,500 in funding to the State, Beautification Committee chair Trustee Priscilla von Roeschlaub formed a committee to work on the renovation project with her. They were able to replant the gardens for under $2,000, saving the Village $12,500.
Von Roeschlaub and fellow committee members, Dolores Kazanjian-O’Brien, Michelle Roper and Jennifer Wilson-Pines, selected attractive, drought-tolerant native plants for the garden. Manorhaven’s Department of Public Work staff removed garbage, cleared weeds and turned over the soil. Volunteers, included Trustee Jim Avena, Deputy Village Clerk Sharon Natale-Abramski, several Brownies from Troop 420 and many other volunteers came with sunhats and garden gloves and were given tools to start digging. Within three hours, seven rain garden sites were finished, turning a weed-infested eyesore into a lovely, welcoming entrance to the Village.
This rain garden revitalization project is just the beginning of extensive improvements to Manorhaven Boulevard. After Trustees Avena and von Roeschlaub met with County Legislator Delia DeRiggi-Whitton to request funding to help improve Manorhaven Boulevard, the legislator decided to amend the County’s capital budget to include $2 million in streetscape funding. “The $2 million plus the $1 million previously approved to repave Manorhaven Boulevard, a County road, will completely transform Manorhaven’s main street for our citizens and all of Port Washington to enjoy” von Roeschlaub said. “Jim, Roy and I can’t wait to start planning this project with the County and our residents.”
Photo caption:
Led by Manorhaven Village Trustee Priscilla von Roeschlaub, about 20 volunteers renovated the rain gardens.
