Pocket Pollinator Park – Hamilton, Ohio

A pocket pollinator park will be installed on the corner of South Fourth Street and Henry Street in close proximity to Hamilton’s Downtown district. It will consist of a diverse, healthy mix of more than thirty perennial flora with varying seasonal bloom times to ensure a sufficient nectar source is available throughout the year. These plants were carefully selected to meet the needs of native bees, moths, ladybugs, butterflies, hummingbirds as well as serve the role of host plants 3 for emerging caterpillars. This addition to the City will help restore lost Ohio habitat, offer vegetation for pollinators and some amphibian species to overwinter 4 , and create a tranquil gathering space for
neighbors to converge to learn more about nature.

An additional component to the space includes the installation of five raised garden beds to be utilized for the purpose of serving struggling families. New Life Mission, an inner-city ministry directly across from the site (415 Henry Street), has committed to maintaining these beds along with the site as a whole. Pastor/Director Felix Russo currently serves hot meals and distributes groceries on a regular basis to those most in need. This expansion will allow for him to supplement the increasing demand for access to fresh, local produce that has been brought on from the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the 2021 MLK Day of Service, our volunteers will be directed to carry out several tasks aimed at prepping the site for phase 1 of the project. Using provided lawn equipment, we plan to clear the site of shrubs and small trees that do not serve a significant role for our space. The trees that are allowed to remain will be trimmed aesthetically and all trimmings will be fed through a brush chipper. The mulched trimmings along with leaves we rake on-site will be piled into a three-bin pallet compost system (to be constructed that day) and covered with heavy-duty tarps. A group of volunteers will assist in litter removal from the space and surrounding block. Five 10’x10’ raised garden beds will be constructed to assist New Life Mission with furthering their pandemic relief efforts. We are anticipating this Day of Service event to last four hours; however, additional volunteer opportunities will be available as we care for the forty-five perennial pollinator plants which will be housed in a greenhouse located at North Sixth Street until Spring planting.

Later phases in the Pollinator Pocket Park will include the installation of educational interpretive signage indicating the importance of wildlife conservation along with an interactive art piece to tie the space in with Hamilton’s City of Sculpture 6 designation. We feel strongly that nurturing an outdoor public space where art, education and environment can intersect will, in turn, generate an interest from the immediate community, school groups and out-of-town visitors. We hope that you will feel as passionately about this project as we do as we actively strive in the coming months to transform this lifeless 9,125 square foot lot into a thriving oasis.