The Property
Creating a Space
Bob Vernon and Cindy David. photo by Greg Clarke
~ by Lee Edgren
Tthree years ago it was an empty two-acre lot rimmed by briars and other invasive species. Now, The Property, which sits at the southern end of Jefferson Street, is a lush green space. Its front boundary is marked by a thick natural fence fashioned of small horizontal tree trunks and branches, providing habitat for small animals and birds.
Sunflowers, zinnias, broomcorn, and bachelor buttons bloom profusely. Messages in pastel chalk on a slate near the road often invite you to notice the beauty of the day, or to share your thoughts in the suggestion book below. Free vegetables are often left for the taking.
The Property is the creation of Cindy David and Bob Vernon. And people passing by gravitate to the space, attracted by its beauty and their own curiosity.“ Is it a park?” is the most frequent question they are asked. Bob says the answer is both yes and no.“ We love to have people visit when we are here and we always invite them in, but not if we are gone. It’ s a liability issue.”
Just what The Property is and what it is going to be are living questions.“ We know it’ s going to draw people,” Cindy notes.“ People talk about needing peace and quiet. We believe we’ ll be having people here, but it’ s a young park and we are a little protective.”
“ It’ s a challenging piece of property because it is in flood way and a flood plain,” Bob says. So in any planning, strict DNR and FEMA regulations have to be considered.“ And whatever is planted has to be able to survive spring floods.”
Cindy quickly notes the upside.“ The flooding provides an unbelievable habitat for wildlife and birds, from Baltimore orioles to hawks. We also have had some eagle sightings.” This spring, they put up a bluebird box at the edge of the flower garden.“ It wasn’ t five minutes before we had a nesting pair,” Bob recalls.“ So far this summer, we’ ve had three clutches.”
The couple has no sense of hurry.“ This property teaches us all the time what to do.” Right now, they envision a gently used and mostly quiet space, one that continues to be a refuge.“ We just put in big stones. And we don’ t even let our grandkids climb on the stones, because we like the moss,” Cindy says.
Cindy and Bob invite participation with their welcoming presence and the suggestion book. They are there at varying hours three to four days a week, working and passing time with friends as they stop by. The Property already has a community feel.
20 Our Brown County • Sept./ Oct. 2014