celery pond

Before the Central Park Conservancy arrived on the scene in NYC, the Park was described as “a bleak landscape of bare dirt…untended trees…trash-filled water bodies…and a state of neglect and decay.” That was in the 1970s, the Conservancy started its 501 (c)(3) position in the early 1980s and accomplished an amazing turnaround, thanks to caring people who supported this effort with membership, fundraisers, and continued tax-deductible support.

Dunkley Avenue public lands have been described as abandoned and neglected, with bare dirt, untended trees and a lonesome quality. The wetland has gained attention thanks to caring people.

Now Celery Pond Advocates has official status as a 501(c)(3) organization so we can move forward to create a turnaround of events. But we need your continued support through membership, fundraising and tax-deductible donations.

If you want to get involved, please come to our second fundraiser this Friday, April 20th, from 6-8pm at 114 Michigan Avenue, the newly remodeled home of Jeff Filbrandt and Annie Brown. Tickets are on sale for $50 at Wolverine Hardware and Whimsey on Phoenix Street. This includes a fabulous selection of light dinner and dessert choices, donated by our wonderful Suzie Blair. Wine and champagne is included in the price.

These monies will go towards a wetland analysis for presentation to the MDEQ file, before they make their decision on the pending permit. The caring people who have so consistently stayed with the effort of the Celery Pond Advocates hope to preserve the wetland.

We also endorse the public lands staying in community use such as suggested by the Parks Commission and the newly emerging Cool Cities idea of a Black River Cultural Center involving the arts and businesses. Help us celebrate Earth Day Weekend and our goal to renew the wetland and floodplain public lands, turning them into something that we can celebrate as green space with creative activities, for decades and generations to come.