Sprucing Up the Glenville Green

If you’ve noticed that the Glenville Green is looking greener and spruced up in recent days — it’s because of the hard work of the town teens working in the Greenwich Youth Conservation Program.

Twenty-eight members of Greenwich Youth Conservation Program (GYCP) were hard at work last week helping to redesign an area of the Glenville Green next to Greenwich American Legion Post.

These local 14-15 year-olds are making a difference in the Greenwich landscape while they get valuable first-job experience.

“People need to know about the good things these teens are doing in Greenwich,” said Roy Simpson, chairman of The Resource Foundation, Inc., the GYCP’s title sponsor. The teens worked to grade the land, remove invasive vines, plant shrubs and re-paint picnic tables.

“This space wasn’t conducive to public use. Now people will be able to come over and have lunch or relax here,” said Bruce Spaman, Superintendent, Parks & Trees Division of the Greenwich Department of Parks and Recreation which runs the GYCP along with the Department of Social Services.

Since June 23, 112 Greenwich 14-15 year-olds have participated in two-week work sessions. The teens must apply and interview for a spot with the GYCP. In addition to doing conservation work, the teens hear presentations from professionals during their afternoon breaks on teen topics such as cyber-bullying, standing up to peer pressure and community resources such as Kids In Crisis.

“It’s a really well-rounded program, and the kids can use this experience to create future success,” said Dinora Hernandez, a GYCP graduate who now, in her twenties, works as a supervisor for the program.

Sponsors and private donors make it possible for each teen to receive a $225 stipend for their work.

In addition to The Resource Foundation, Fire House Deli, Garden Catering, McArdle’s Florist and Garden Center, and Whole Foods of Greenwich also sponsor the program. There are also many private donors.

This year marks the GYCP’s 36th year of “Teens Working for a Greener Greenwich.”

Contributed photo: from left are Greenwich Youth Conservation members George Ribushofski, Dylen Ehret and Marclem Nascimento.