Park Staff: Susan Blackledge, Park Manager, Anders Hyden Camp; John Drummond,
Park Maintenance. Preferred times to volunteer are 8:30 a.m. to noon &
1-3:30pm Volunteer times Camp; work to be done should be prearranged with parkstaff so you have what you need to accomplish tasks.
To Volunteer Call Park Phone: 512-930-0040
Or email: sblackledge@wilco.org or susieblackledge@gmail.com
at least 24 hours before coming to ensure Staff availability. Provide us with your dates and times of availability so we can schedule activities for you.
Presently Volunteers are needed for:
Hopscotch sidewalk restoration: Our hopscotch game on the sidewalk needs
painting. If you can paint a straight line you can do this. Needs to be done now!
Flower Bed Beautification: Weeding, mulching, planting, harvesting of seed,
and trimming back existing flower beds (20 beds of which only 6 are irrigated).
Learn cool weather weeds/plants. vs. warm weather weeds/plants, perennials vs.
annuals, native and non-native plants, invasive vs. desirables.
Pond Beautification: We skim the pond along the edges with rakes to remove
aquatic weeds. The weeds & algae are taken to the park compost pile. The
compost is used in flower beds and throughout the park. Our mixture of donkey
manure and aquatic vegetation makes excellent compost. We are also making the
pond fishing friendly at the same time.
Scheduled Work Days with Juvenile Services to work on the Pond are:
2019 Wed. July 17th Camp; Aug.7 th
Pecan tree care: Pecans continuously shed their branches. Mulch is used in
flower beds, around trees, and along nature trails. We transplant pecan seedlings
that we find into pots till they mature and then transplant them to more desirable
locations. 96 (4 varieties) of pecans trees and 4 peach trees were planted in 2010
in the prairie restoration area that are continually maintained to ensure there
success. Assistance with spraying Zinc on small trees for fertilization is needed
during the spring till August. Dates TBA.
Annual Spring & Fall Work Day/Pot Luck Luncheon. Dates Sat. Oct.
5 th,2019 Camp; Sat. Mar.7 t h,2020
Volunteers will clean out flower beds, mulch trees & other gardening projects.
Lunch is a delicious Pot Luck meal at the Tonkawa Pavilion. It is fun day of
sprucing up the park for everyone to enjoy.
Trail Maintenance: Trim back brush and tree limbs. Fill in ruts, weedeat, and
other work as needed. This is ongoing.
Prairie Restoration: Help be a part of the development of a restored native
prairie. Projects are ongoing. Removal of invasive plants, seeding native grasses
& wildflowers etc..
Donate plants & or cuttings for transplanting and also receive plants & seeds.
(On going).
Harvesting of wildflower, annuals, perennials and native grass seeds. This
happens throughout the year. You can work alone as well as work days will be
announced once the plants have gone to seed.
Junior Master Gardeners, Jr. Master Naturalists & WILCO Juvenile
Services. Work with the youth of the County on Designated Projects throughout
the Park. Dates TBA. Contact the Junior Master Gardeners and Master Naturalist
for scheduled events. Dates for Wilco Juvenile Services are under Pond
Beautification in this document. Contact Susan Blackledge @
susieblackledge@gmail.com to volunteer for any of those dates.
Boy Camp; Girl Scouts & other volunteer groups: Work with volunteers to help
them acquire their community service hours and badges. TBA as they occur.
Development of Nature Trail:
Scheduled work days for United Way of Williamson County “Day of
CaringDate Fri. Sept. 27th,2019 . MLK Day United Way “Day of
Service” Mon. Jan. 20 th ,2020.The Nature Trail is 1/3 rd of a mile long and
needs clearing, plant identification, and invasive plant removal. Native Plant
Garden needs on going TLC. This trail is a wonderful birding and educational
outdoor classroom for everyone to enjoy. Work on the trail can be scheduled on
other days than the United Way Volunteer days. Coordinate w/staff.
Decorating the Park for the Holidays. We decorate the park the week before
Thanksgiving. Date TBA depending on the weather. Decorate the Park & get
in the Holiday Spirit.
MG Camp; MN Newsletter Reporters: Share your experience volunteering at the
park by submitting photos and writing articles for the MG & MN Newsletter.
Ongoing.
Develop displays, presentations & scrap booking to document Park History.
Coordinate with Susan if interested on working on this project.
Donkey Care: Help groom and train two adorable donkeys. Training is required
to do this. Firewood donations support our donkey’s needs.
Our Address is: 1801 CR 152, Georgetown 78626
Directions to the Park: From South of Georgetown
Go North on IH 35
Take exit 265 or Southbound I30
Do Not get on 130, Stay on Access Road
Access Road will dead into CR 152, Take a Left.
1801 CR 152 (Park Entrance) is about a mile on left.
Directions from Sun City: From 195 go to IH35 and go south on Feeder road. Come up to
2 nd stop sign (1 st stop is a one way the wrong way) and take a left at the second stop sign
to go South Bound on 130 Access Road. Do not go onto S130!
Access Road will dead end into CR 152. Take a left and go about 1 mile
1801 CR 152, Entrance to park on left.
From the Road Camp; Bridge complex & Annex meeting room. Take a left out of the parking
lot and go North on the Inner Loop. At the 971 light & intersection take a right or go east
onto 971 and take the 1 st left onto CR 152. Go approximately 2 miles and the entrance to
the park will be on your left, 1801 CR 152.
Please hide anything of value in your vehicle out of site or leave it at home.
SUMMARY OF SCHEDULED WORK DAYS @ BERRY SPRINGS
Pond Beautification with Juvenile Services 8:30am-noon
Wed. July 17 th
Wed. Aug. 7 th
Fri. Sept. 27th, 2019 United Way Day of Caring 8:30-noon
Mon. Jan. 20th, 2020 United Way Day of Service 8:30-noon
Sat. Oct.5th, 2019 Fall Clean Up/Pot Luck Luncheon 8:30am-3:30pm
Sat. Mar. 7th,2020 Spring Clean Up/Pot Luck Luncheon 8:30am 3:30pm
Additional Opportunites Include:
Donkey Care: Coordinator Karen Schnell
Bluebird Nest Watch: Coordinator Christie Gardner
Stream Team Monitoring: Coordinator Cynthia Edgar
Amphibian Watch: Coordinator Kathy McCormick
Barn Restoration
Invasive Plant Removal: Charles Newsom
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING BERRY SPRINGS!!!!!!!!!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!