Backyard clean-up

By Sam Fran Scavuzzo
Collegian Editor
April 16, 2008

In a move to keep adjacent properties well-maintained and in an attempt to create a safer neighborhood, La Salle announced a deal with the Fairmont Park Commission to clean up the Wister Woods.

Sam Scavuzzo - Dedicated to WWI soldiers, this statue has been negatively affected
by the woods' uncleanliness.

“We want the area to be cleaner, greener and safer,” Edward Turzanki, counsel to the president and assistant vice president for government and community relations, said.

Located along Belfield Avenue between Lindley Avenue and Wister Street, the Wister Woods is a section of Fairmont Park that in recent years became so overgrown with brush and littered with garbage that the statue dedicated to World War I soldiers by the Mothers of Olney was disregarded.

“People are walking in this heavily travel highway because of the described conditions,” Associate Director of Security and Safety John Gallagher said.

Upon inspecting the location, the park’s commission agreed to pare back brush, plant new trees, seed the park and remove dead trees.

Additionally, the FPC offered to clear all short-term dumping at the park. This includes appliances, yard clippings and even an abandoned car.

“If we can improve our site lines in order to be safer and clean up the park, then it is a good thing,” Turzanski said.

Turzanski mentioned that the improvements to the park will encourage greater use for walkers, bikers and those wishing to have a picnic. Additionally, he indicated the university may utilize the space for intramural sports.

“This is a great success story. It’s very good to work with such enlightened partners,” Turzanski—also a political science professor—said.

At La Salle, the idea to clear the park stemmed from discussions within the security office between Director of Security and Safety Arthur Grover and Gallagher.

“The conditions along that route give rise to safety concerns, not only the university, but also for our neighbors,” Gallagher said in an e-mail to Grover.

“The overgrowth includes unpruned trees that interfere with street lighting, but also, vines are clinging to and traveling along overhead cables and wires that traverse that street. Eventually, the weight of the vines may interfere with the delivery of services and may be cause for downed wires.”

These conversations were shared with Turzanski, who, in turn, contacted Director, Operations and Landscape Management for Fairmont Park, Christopher Palmer.

A priority of University President Brother Michael McGinniss’s tenure is to address public spaces adjacent and approaching the university as a quality of life issue.

“La Salle needs to be a good neighborhood in which to live, work and study,” Turzanski said.

In the 1940s, the Wister Woods were part of the Peale property–currently owned by La Salle and housing both the president’s and Security office. The property was split in half, with the current Wister Woods being deeded to the city under the agreement that upkeep on the property would be maintained.

However, over the years, vandalism, overgrown brush and even a fire caused the certain sections of the property to be unusable.

Although Turzanski hopes the newly cleared park will be a hub for student life, he warns park goers to respect the property.

“I invite people to enjoy themselves, but afterwards, clean up after themselves,” he said. “Don’t treat it as if [La Salle students] are the only ones to use it. If we are good neighbors, local residents will be more than accommodating.”

scavuzzos1@lasalle.edu