Dreaming Green: Ribbon-cutting ceremony held for city's first all-native plant park

After three years of hard work, Vadner Park is now complete.

By Jarleene Almenas
| 2:10 p.m. April 26, 2022

The ribbon-cutting for Vadner Park was held on Tuesday, April 26. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Leisure Services Director Robert Carolin opens the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Vadner Park on Tuesday, April 26. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Leisure Services Director Robert Carolin presents the Ormond Beach City Commissioners, and School Board Member Carl Persis, during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Vadner Park on Tuesday, April 26. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington, sporting a golden butterfly on his lapel, recognizes the Garden Club of the Halifax Country during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Vadner Park on Tuesday, April 26. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington and immediate GCHC Past President Linda Armour. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

GCHC immediate Past President Linda Armour shows off the award, designed by local artist Gail Artin. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

GCHC immediate Past President Linda Armour presents City Landscape Manager Michael Demchak with an award. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

GCHC members Sang Roberson and Katherine Wing are recognized for their Vadner Park vision. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

GCHC immediate Past President Linda Armour recognizes Vadner Park Project Chairwoman Lori Tolland. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

GCHC members Peggy Harp and Susan Anderson are recognized by GCHC immediate Past President Linda Armour. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

GCHC Past President Muffi Chanfrau called Vadner Park a "beautiful dream that has come true today" during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Vadner Park on Tuesday, April 26. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

GCHC Past President Muffi Chanfrau introduces the club's new president Marian Tomblin. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Vadner Park Project Chairwoman Lori Tolland presents each commissioner with a garden club apron during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Vadner Park on Tuesday, April 26. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

The land for Vadner Park was donated by a former GCHC member. Photo by Jarleene Almenas

Ormond Beach Observer
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Ormond Beach's first all-native plant park is officially complete.

The Garden Club of the Halifax Country, in partnership with the city of Ormond Beach, transformed Vadner Park from an unused green space full of invasive plants and trees into a native habitat full of plants like cinnamon fern, butterfly weed and coreopsis daisies — which is also Florida's state wildflower, an effort supported by the garden club in the the early 1990s. The club, which is celebrating its centennial anniversary, incorporated the wildflower into its new logo.

Adorned with butterflies, the completion of the sixth-tenth of an acre park was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, April 26, an occasion attended by elected officials, city staff and members of the garden club, many wearing their green aprons.

"The purpose of our garden club is to always think about horticulture, to learn, to do floral arrangements, to do photography, to create a better society and environment," GCHC Past President Muffi Chanfrau said. "But one of our main objectives is always to do something for our community."

Vadner Park was originally a vacant lot, and was donated to the city by Mrs. Vadner, who happened to also be a member of the GCHC at the time. The city turned Vadner into a passive park in 1999.

The Vadner Park project was born in 2019 during Chanfrau's time as president when, after striking up a friendship while walking their dogs in the neighborhood, GCHC members Sang Roberson and Katherine Wing got together and decided Vadner Park needed a change. Located on the corner of Seton Trail and Seminole Avenue, next to Hillside Cemetery, the pocket park was easily overlooked.

Why native plants matter

According to the Audobon Society, native plants play a key role in helping feed local birds.

In an article titled, "Why Native Plants Are Better for Birds and People," the Audobon Society states:

"Landscaped with native species, your yard, patio, or balcony becomes a vital recharge station for birds passing through and a sanctuary for nesting and overwintering birds. Each patch of restored native habitat is just that — a patch in the frayed fabric of the ecosystem in which it lies. By landscaping with native plants, we can turn a patchwork of green spaces into a quilt of restored habitat."

In order to survive, native birds need native plants, and the insects that come with them. Non-native plants are often poor food sources for both birds and insects.

The article states research has shown native oaks "support more than 550 different species of butterflies and moths alone."

But Wing and Roberson envisioned then what it could be: a haven for wildflowers and native plants, the city's first.

They approached the garden club with their idea, and in March 2020, the city of Ormond Beach approved a partnership with the garden club for the Vadner Park project, committing to $24,000 in funding to be included in the next year's budget. The GCHC was able to raise about $145,000 for Vadner Park, through grants and donations. The city also donated staff time and labor to help with the effort, particularly city Landscape Manager Mike Demchak. Zev Cohen and Associates also aided in the removal of invasive plants, the correction of irrigation and installation of electricity for the water feature.

City Leisure Services Director Robert Carolin said when he was first approached by Wing and Roberson, it took him a minute to realize where the park they were talking about was located. He had worked with the city for 12 years at that time, and though he knew there was a park next to Hillside Cemetery, he didn't know it by name.

Thanks to the garden club, that has definitely changed. And though COVID impacted many projects, he shared that was not the case with Vadner Park.

"Let me tell you, the ladies that we worked with on this — COVID did not slow them down even a little bit," Carolin said. "They stayed on point and kept up moving the entire way."

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by all members of the City Commission and former mayor and Volusia County School Board member Carl Persis. Mayor Bill Partington presented GCHC Immediate Past President Linda Armour with a proclamation in recognition of the club's efforts.

"I think the fact that the entire commission showed up this morning, it's just a testament to how much respect they have for you and the hard work that you put into this beautiful park," Partington said. "Commissioner Selby often says it takes someone who is an advocate to get something done in the city — Someone who has a great idea and continues to push to see that happen, and your group has been that advocate."

The GCHC is not done yet with Vadner — Project Chairwoman Lori Tolland said two 12-foot arbors (one on each entrance of the park, will be built over the summer, inspired by designs created by a garden club member's deceased husband. An area for children to climb is also in the works, in addition to the garden club's efforts to enhance the education piece of the park. As it stands now, signs in the park contain QR codes for visitors to scan and learn more about the native plants.

Chanfrau thanked the city and the commission for their support.

"It's just been a wonderful community effort, and I just want to thank you all," she said. "Thank you all for helping and contributing to this beautiful dream that has come true today."