Spring Clean-Up. Our first without Jerry

Jerry Culligan, The Rocky Run's unofficial 'mayor', passed late last year.  For most of the run's existence, he was the point person for our Spring and Fall clean-up events, as well as the person who did much of the daily maintenance work.  He is irreplaceable, and yet, the work must continue.  And let's just say, some things never change.  We once again had problems with wood chip delivery.  

Before I arrived on the scene, it was discovered that the gate used for vehicles to enter the run was rusted shut from lack of use.  With much effort, it was opened.  Bringing us to our next problem.  

The rain-soaked ground was too soft.  The truck was much too large.  (Literally a Mack Truck, which I suppose is appropriate, given those Bulldog hood ornaments they sport.)  There was no way to get the chips inside the run without the truck sinking into the mud. Jerry used to arrange for little Bobcat vehicles to bring the chips inside a bit at a time, but those are under a separate Parks Dept. authority from the one with the trucks and the chips, and I think I already mentioned Jerry was irreplaceable?  

Anyway, we got chips.  We just had to use wheelbarrows to bring them in ourselves.  We have two.  We got two more from Parks.  One of them was broken.  Norma ran home and brought the nuts and bolts and tools to repair it. Norma is likewise irreplaceable.  So is manual labor, at these events.  We've had bigger turnouts, but most of the people who showed up were more than ready to pitch in.  They just needed tools.  

The tools were a bit late arriving, not through any ill intent, but because in spite of Bailea very specifically telling Partnership for Parks what we needed in the application she filled out, a bureaucratic miscommunication caused them to show up with nothing but Parks Dept. swag, T-shirts and such. Appreciated.  Not useful to the task at hand. Bailea remonstrated, calls were made, tools were (eventually) provided.  Bailea is most definitely irreplaceable.  

Now what all this meant was that in order to complete the task in the allotted time, we had to use the truck gate as the wheelbarrow gate.  With dogs present inside the run.  Meaning we had to make sure they didn't decide to go running outside the run.  Because all dogs are, as we well know, irreplaceable.  

The work proceeded--we could all sense Jerry watching us, and shouting instructions (possibly interspersed with the odd snatch of mild profanity), which we were sadly unable to hear, though we could imagine.  It wasn't going to be one of our more ambitious clean-ups, given the various constraints, but Joy Gramolini, who had been organizing well in advance of the event, did want to do something about two of the benches on the west side of the run, which have been gradually sinking into the ground.  They are heavy, but we were determined, and now they are in new locations. Here's Beatrice, testing one out.  (Bea is supremely irreplaceable, as is Joy).

We didn't get all the chips inside, but overall, things are much improved.  There is still so much to be done, though.  The run isn't that far shy of 20 years old now.  The fence has taken quite a few hard knocks, and the level of the ground inside the fence has steadily risen, making the fence less of an obstacle for athletic pooches.  It's still one of the best runs in the city, but it could be better.  Without Jerry, we can't just pretend the run will run itself.  We will need to organize, fundraise, and work with the city to make sure this resources remains available to future generations of dogs and people.  Because a place like the Rocky Run is not only irreplaceable, but invaluable.  As is the community that sustains it.