46 Distillation Guidebook Co-Lab • 9.18–9.19 2025 Landscape. So timing was a factor, but really I attribute the park’s success to the folks who did the initial clean-up work, then lent us their support, and to the LVG Conservation Landscape whose futuremindset allows for unique projects like this to be funded. Interim Activation Kevin Lahoda Before Resilience Park was formally established, the city and the Environmental Action Committee began cleaning up the site. How important was that early, informal activation in building the momentum and community trust needed to make the park official? Maggie Wallner Resilience Park would likely not exist without the EAC and that first clean-up! At the very least, a parcel in a different location would have been chosen- one which may not be able to provide as many nearby residents with access to grass and garden space, fruit trees, or a stream. I think there’s more need and desire for meaningful connection to nature than ever, but acting to facilitate that for others can be quite difficult as an individual. Instead of having someone “pass the torch” in this instance, the EAC provided a torch to light the way for Resilience Park while keeping their own aflame. The community’s trust of the space seems to be building over time. Each year, there seems to be more community interest in the park and what we’ve planted. I love when residents approach me and ask questions about the trees and how I’m caring for them, or tell me how often they enjoy the nature trail! I think their willingness to approach me and share a tiny piece of themselves really speaks to the unifying powers of nature! The Reclamation Process Kevin Lahoda Ecological restoration was central to the park’s mission — removing invasive species and planting native species along Trout Creek. What does that kind of ecological work actually look like on the ground, and what does it mean for a neighborhood to have access to a restored natural space?
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