STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Fueled by treats from Northside Coffee Co., West Brighton traded fallen leaves for fresh blooms on Saturday as 26 volunteers swept streets and planted 500 daffodil bulbs during the semi-annual Litter Walk & Bulb Planting. Organized by the Forest Regional Residents’ Civic Association (FRRCA), the effort focused on Forest Avenue from Hart Boulevard to Bement Avenue, as well as Castleton Avenue and surrounding streets.
The effort focused on Forest Avenue from Hart Boulevard to Bement Avenue, as well as Castleton Avenue and surrounding streets.(Courtesy of FRCCA)
Participants gathered at 9 a.m. near CVS at Forest and Bard Avenues, armed with brooms, gloves, and grabbers provided by the Department of Sanitation. In addition to clearing litter, volunteers removed illegal signs and stickers from poles and fences while planting bulbs in tree beds to brighten the neighborhood come spring.
“Our civic association feels strongly that a beautiful neighborhood needs to be represented by clean and lovely commercial corridors,” said Neil Anastasio, FRRCA president and West Brighton resident.
Hot coffee took the chill off a brisk fall afternoon as West Brighton residents turned out to plant daffodils along Forest Avenue. .(Courtesy of FRCCA)
Local businesses pitched in, with Northside Coffee Company supplying beverages for the crew. Students who joined the effort earned community service certificates. “Supporting the cleanup was a small way to give back to the place that supports us every day,” said Juan Beccera, owner of Northside Coffee.
FRCCA community liaison Jill Synmoie who also lives in the neighborhood added, “It was a beautiful day to volunteer and we can’t wait to see the daffodils bloom in the spring!”
This West Brighton planting map shows where the daffodils will bloom at the first sign of spring.(Courtesy of FRCCA)
The FRRCA hosts these cleanups twice a year as part of its mission to preserve and enhance the neighborhood’s charm. This particular event was supported by funding and staff from State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton’s office. Additional financial backing came from Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks’ budget.
Next up: a Historic West Brighton Walking Tour on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m., led by local historian John Kilcullen. The tour begins at Bard and Whitewood Avenues and explores the area’s historic homes and tree-lined streets. Details can be found at frrca.org.
West Brighton’s Walker Park hosted its first cricket match in 1886 and later welcomed legends like Donald Bradman and Garry Sobers. Today, the Staten Island Cricket Club continues the tradition with a diverse community of players.
West Brighton’s pride runs deep. Originally settled by Dutch colonists in the 1600s and later known as “Factoryville,” the neighborhood evolved through waves of Irish and Italian immigration. Today, it’s home to a diverse community and boasts notable landmarks like Walker Park, site of the Staten Island Cricket Club—America’s oldest continuously operating cricket club—and the nation’s first lawn tennis court.
Walker Park’s historic tennis courts honor Mary Outerbridge (yes, the namesake of the “crossing”) the Staten Islander credited with introducing tennis to America in 1874.
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