Sharing A Secret: Nonprofit Restoring Garden At Huntington Central Park Seeks Aid

When volunteers from the Huntington Beach Tree Society proposed the project in 2014, retired teacher Juana Muller doubted that the one-acre site in the shadow of the central library could be restored. And Madeira's pride in the bush made it impossible to find even a winding road.

"See that big opening?" Showing 15 meters of chain link fencing from the park to the shores of Lake Talbert. "We didn't know it was here. We started cleaning and cleaning and cleaning and it opened up."

Steve Engel, a tree association volunteer and retired aerospace program manager, said an area called the 'Secret Garden' eventually led to an isolated trail. Fragments are recycled into concrete pavers for a gravel driveway with alder, live oak and cherry blossoms. and other plants that cannot be saved.

Volunteering at the park allows retired teacher Betty Reinertson to appreciate nature without leaving the city. He always had a smile on his face when he saw people stumbling along the road pulling weeds.

He and the rest of the tree community believe that having green spaces like the Secret Garden is very important. But Mueller estimated that the hands-on care provided would cost about $50,000 a year in materials and labor.

"Hat in hand, we could go to town and say, 'Hey, we need all this,'" Engel said. But I think we decided a long time ago not to do that.

The city government recently stepped in to pay for a new arch marking the entrance to the garden behind the central library, but people still miss it. And supporters of the tree community rallied to support bike racks and boxes to store their gear.

But there could be security risks, Engel said. Over the years, water flowing into the park has created a bend in the gravel path where you can surf. Uneven surfaces and sometimes rain water make it difficult for vehicles and wheelchairs to pass.

Volunteers want The Secret Garden to be safely accessible to all members of the community. But this repair is too much work for the team, or about six volunteers, to handle in a timely manner, Engel said.

This year's Robert Meyer Leadership Academy class decided to reach out. In addition to rolling up their sleeves with Tree Society volunteers, they're spreading the word and raising funds to restore the trail in July, academy member Jessica Cuchillo said. They hope to raise $5,000 by the summer.

"It's in our backyard," said academy member Adam Edelman. “You can use anything. And I think we live in a tough world now. It's great to go somewhere quiet and peaceful where you can let your mind go a little crazy. That's why we thought it was a great way to give back.

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