MENDON COMMUNITY PARK PLAYGROUND:

The Mendon Community Park was built in 1986 behind St. Catherine's Church in the Hamlet. Msgr. Albert Schnacky, pastor was instrumental in presenting the idea of a much needed children’s playground and park to the community. Robert Leathers, a creative playgrounds architect from Ithaca, designed the park. A core committee of volunteers raised money and built the playground. In all over 200 people worked on the park from start to finish. The park stands today as a commitment of the community to its children. The Mendon Foundation has been maintaining the park for several years. Foundation members do timber replacement, staining of the equipment, refurbishing and weed control on a yearly basis. If you would like to volunteer for this project please e-mail Brain Eder at brianeder@hotmail.com.

PHEASANTS FOREVER: The Mendon Foundation and the Genesee Valley Chapter of Pheasants Forever have formed a cooperative agreement to provide habitat reclamation along the Lehigh Valley Trail and in the Town of Mendon for the declining Ring-necked Pheasant population and many other upland ground bird species. This 501-C3 nonprofit conservation organization will work with the Foundation to provide assistance in conservation easement, land management, land acquisition, seed purchases and equipment for habitat restoration. The Mendon Foundation will work with local landowners to obtain conservation easements that would be beneficial for the ground birds. The resident biologist from Pheasants Forever and the Department of Environmental Conservation will determine which type of habitat planting best suits the condition of the land and what programs are available to the landowner. Pheasants forever provide the seed and planting equipment, while the DEC monitors the project’s effects on the indigenous wildlife. If you are interested in participating in this program e-mail Arlene Cluff at AJCLUFF45@aol.com.