A constant feature of Holding Park has been the small spring just to the east of the pool area. It feeds the small stream that runs from South Wingate Street westward between Durham Road and Woodland Drive. It also has provided endless muddy entertainment for generations of children.
At some point, the area was fenced and a rain garden was planted, but that has been neglected of late until Saturday, March 7, when members of the Neuse River Hawks and the Wake Forest High School Beta Club joined forces for a project, the restoration of the rain garden.
As Alan Adams, president of the Neuse River Hawks, put it, “As this location is a boggy area, it is difficult for the parks department to maintain, it was decided the area should be put to good use.”
That involved some hard labor with rakes, shovels and hoes, pulling out old plants, weeds and grasses, moving some rocks and clearing a larger area.
The plan is to plant trees and plants suitable for the wet conditions and partial shade. Those plants will be one favored by pollinators – bees and butterflies – such as milkweed and button brush. Adams said it will be certified as a stop on the Butterfly Highway with appropriate signage, and in the future they will add ADA-compliant paths and benches.
Their work is not done. They will be working in the park on the remaining Saturdays in March from 1 to 4 p.m. They will welcome any volunteers.
The Neuse River Hawks is the Wake Forest area chapter of the North Carolina Wildlife Foundation whose mission is to protect, conserve, and restore North Carolina wildlife and habitat. For more information about them you can visit their website at facebook.com/NCRiverhawks.
The Beta Club of Wake Forest High School is an honors club that performs many community service projects in town.
#
