An open meadow Winnipeg The San Vital district was once LandfillBut 60 years later, a group of volunteers is taking the lead in finding a different use for the area.
Over the weekend, volunteers spent time transforming Marlene Street Park, starting with the planting of 1,000 trees.
Some say the idea is to change people's perception of such places.
“I think the initial placement of the landfill here is emblematic of our attitude toward the river at the time,” said Ryan Palmquist, managing director of Save the Seine.
“We literally see them as garbage dumps.”
He added that while the garbage itself would not be dumped in the former landfill, the existing grassy area did not have much ecological value. The trees that would then be planted would help keep the ground healthy and absorb rainwater, preventing it from seeping in – which would cause toxic materials from the landfill to contaminate nearby rivers.
“We’re going to significantly reduce the amount of water that’s seeping into the former landfill and entering our freshwater,” Plumquist said.
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Projects like this, which turn this space into a viable forest, ultimately aim to attract more wildlife. Through this project, our goal is to help the area grow a diverse tree canopy for decades to come.
It was also a great opportunity for participants to learn about biodiversity – at least, that’s what Dr Anju Bajaj thought.
“We need to educate them from a young age. So that when they are 10-15 years old, they can realise its importance,” said Bajaj, who is on the board of directors of Save the Seine.
“We hope that all of the life forms that co-habit this city and all of the life forms that live in our urban ecosystems … will benefit from this project,” Plumquist said.
— Attached by Katherine Dornian of Global
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