Recent partnership helps beautify CJ Smith Park | News

According to Keep Newnan Beautiful Director Page Beckwith, volunteers helped install approximately 475 native plants and grasses at the park.

The plants and grasses were acquired from Nemophilly natives in Auburn, Alabama, and Mellow Marsh Nursery in North Carolina. Chattahoochee Riverkeepers also helped with plant selections and planting.

“Some of my favorite ones are the silky dogwood stakes and the elderberry stakes that we had to hammer into the creek bank,” she said. They will hopefully sprout, and their roots will help stabilize the banks and hopefully prevent any future erosion.”

Beckwith said the soft rush looks like weeds and will hopefully take root in the creek beds, helping to stabilize the water and keep it clean. The duck potato tubers resemble little rocks and should thrive and successfully spread through the creek.

As Beckwith rightly points out, this project is not a one-time effort. “The journey will span over the next year, requiring us to diligently remove invasive species and closely monitor the banks and lower areas to ensure the plants can establish roots and flourish,” she said.

Volunteers flagged the area with pink to encourage people to stay out of the area and encourage city staff not to spray around the new baby plants.

Beckwith said the partnership between KNB and Empower is a successful one since the online

school works hard to connect their students with real life.

“KNB has been lucky to have them work with us…