This is awesome!

But has the Japanese Knotweed been cut back? As of a few weeks ago it had completely overgrown part of the trail. http://seeclickfix.com/issues/107950-parks-request

Mark, I'm not sure. If it hasn't been cut by the 10th we can definitely get on that as well. Anyone in the neighborhood have some pruning shears they can bring?

Hi, Westville Village Renaissance Alliance has pruning sheers but we are checking with wildlife folks about whether it is OK to cut back the Knotweed this late in the summer. We are wondering if it is serving as wildlife habitat at this point and whether removal has to be done in the spring, before it matures and animals start nesting in it. If we get the go-ahead, we can do it. I'll post here with the answer.

Quick clarification about the Knotweed: Trimming is OK. Knotweed was trimmed along the trail a bit ago. We'd like to do more than that and that is where we have the wildlife question. It not only blocks the trail but takes over the river bank at Whalley.

Thank you for the clarification on the Knotweed, and for letting us know it has been trimmed back. I have closed the other open issue about it.

We are really focusing on the trail head at Whalley. It is cleaned periodically by Friends of Edgewood Park, with help from the Parks and Rec. ranger -- both work really hard to make Edgewood Park the great place it is. We are hoping for more permanent cleanliness by those whose refuse blows or falls into the trail and the river where it intersects with Whalley Ave.

There has been a commercial sign advertising lottery tickets and a street sign in the river at Whalley Ave for months. We will get all that stuff out of there on Sept. 10.

Still working on the Knotweed question. Looks like a go, but still have one more expert to talk to!

I walked the trail yesterday, and it looked like the Knotweed had been cut significantly back, but starting to grow over again. Getting rid of it entirely would be a great idea since it grows incredibly fast.

Also I agree, something must be done to keep the refuse out of the trail head area. Maybe LCI should inspect the properties more often - don't the gas stations, etc., have a public responsibility to keep their properties clear of enormous amounts of garbage and broken glass?

These things do make a difference. Yesterday, I had been thinking of taking families on the trail walk, which was so nice from West Rock Park up until you reach Whalley. But it's so bad when it hits Whalley and heads back over towards the Village, that unfortunately we would have to avoid taking it. I have been familiar with the area for a long time, but imagine that a person new to the area would be left with a very bad impression. Hopefully that will be changing!

Hi Mark, and everyone,

I took a walk on Sunday, post-storm. (Got some good phone pics too of the river running pretty high)

The strip between the trail and the guard rails as you loop around the back parking lot along the paved portion of the trail collects trash all along the way . Depending on how many volunteers come, we can expand out from Whalley & the River.

The Knotweed is flowering now and You're right, it is growing back onto the trail, so, if anyone has pruning sheers bring them along. We'll bring ours too.

Work gloves are a very good idea too.

Hi all,

So the cleanup is coming up quickly! On Saturday, we will be meeting at the gazebo in Edgewood Park near the corner of Whalley and West Rock Ave. Volunteers should plan on being there at 9:30AM or so and the cleanup will go until 11:30AM. Check out the SeeClickFix blog (here: http://bit.ly/qX3HTq) to get all of the latest details and don't forget to RSVP! Shoot us an email at contact (at) seeclickfix (dot) com to let us know you're coming, as well as with any questions or concerns you may have!

Can't wait to see everyone on Saturday!

Wow, what a clean up we did on Sept 10. Thank you to everyone who came out on a Saturday morning to help.

We got rid of more Japanese Knotweed, an invasive species, than I thought we would be able to in one morning (though there is plenty more).

What we pulled out of the river was truly astounding: From this one spot where Whalley Avenue crosses the West River, we pulled out a vacuum cleaner, a microwave oven, about three tires (?) a traffic sign, two metal advertising signs and some other large metal items I could not even identify -- (maybe someone else who was there knows?)

A big thanks to the Beaver Pond Park folks, who were out in force with us; Ranger Harry from Parks Dept, without whom we would not have accomplished half as much; Vicky from Bull Bag, who not only donated Bull Bag's services but rolled up her sleeves with us; and the folks at SeeClickFix who had the idea for doing this and partnered with us to get it done.

SeeClickFix is putting together before and after pics. Visit our page too, for some pics from the cleanup: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.257480060958749.64256.102183063155117&type=1

The challenge now is to find ways to keep the river and surrounding area clean.

Thanks everyone! Jane, Westville Village Renaissance Alliance

Is this issue resolved now?

This area is OK for now, though perhaps will need another clean-up in the spring. Thanks again to SeeClickFix and everyone else who helped out on our Sept. 10 clean-up!

Thanks for closing this, Chris! I haven't been by the area in a while so I wasn't sure what was going on there. Glad to hear things are staying clean. We'll definitely be ready to lend a (few) hands for a spring clean-up!