Ridgewood Garden Club Of Parma Community Involvement Projects

Few people know that Parma has 19 parks located at different areas of the city. When Kathy Cancasci agreed to be the chairperson of the Ridgewood Garden Club of Parma Community Involvement Committee, she enthusiastically organized a group of members who assisted her in planting a variety of bulbs, annuals, and perennials at the park signs.

The beautification of Parma is her main objective and it has been accomplished as reflected in her following committee report:

Spring clean-up was conducted by weeding and adding plants to the State Road tree boxes from Snow Road to Tuxedo Road.

Another spring clean-up of weeding and adding plants from our plant sale to the 11 park signs locations and the Veterans Memorial was completed in May.

We relocated the plants from James Day 1 and 2 park signs (due to the widening of the Pleasant Valley Road) to the additional five park signs locations.

On April 29th, garden club members planted herbs in starter pots with student council students and their advisor, Ms. Kim Karaffa, from Parma’s Renwood Elementary School. The students were given herb description handouts, seed packets, certificates of appreciation, snacks, and drinks. A gift certificate from Giant Eagle at The Shoppes at Parma was used to purchase the snacks and drinks. 

On May 31st, we planted at the last four park signs (John Petruska Park, Jerry Stano Park, Ries Youth Complex, and South Park). We were assisted by Scout Master Davetta Burk and Cub Scouts Pack 263. It was a learning experience for the scouts who were given instructions and who planted side by side with garden club members. They were given handouts with descriptions of the deer resistant and drought tolerant plants that were used for the planting. They were also given certificates of appreciation, seed packets, snacks, and drinks. A gift certificate from Giant Eagle at the Shoppes at Parma was used to purchase the snacks and drinks. Petitti Garden Center donated a $25.00 gift certificate for plants and the City of Parma paid for additional plants.

On June 2nd, the garden club members meet to plant a butterfly garden at the Parma Animal Shelter. We planted in pots by the entry door and made a butterfly garden to the right of the entrance. The Kurtz Brothers donated the soil, The Home Depot on Brookpark Road donated gift certificates used for plants, $10.00 from Lori Hilfer of the Animal Shelter, pots and fencing from the Cancasci's, and plants from Linda Gattiker and from the garden club plant sale. 

On June 11th, our members planted the herb pots and flowers that the students from Renwood grew along with marigolds and additional herbs that were purchased by the Parma City Parks department. After the planting, our members and spouses enjoyed a pot luck supper in the Pavilion. (Special thanks for the Parma City Parks Department for erecting a permanent sign that reads: “Planted by the Ridgewood Garden Club of Parma” at the Hollywood Park.) 

On July 16th, Stearns Farm received delivery of a garden bench which we ordered from Holmes Crafted Furniture. The bench was donated by the garden club members through collection of loose change at our monthly club meetings. 

A memory book of our two year Parma Beautification Project was put together from Shutterfly and given to Mickey Vittardi, Parma Parks Director, in appreciation for all his efforts in helping the garden club to complete the projects. 

A community garden was planted at PCSD Family Collaborative Center on Snow Road the first week of June. The four square plots contain a variety of vegetables and some annuals and perennials. Our first harvest of a basket of lettuce was donated to the Collab’s kitchen a couple of weeks ago. 

We have two future projects to complete this year. We are planning to help plant at the Parma Senior Center and a 1,000 daffodil bulb planting this September. 

The Ridgewood Garden Club of Parma was organized in 1951 and its current theme is “Bloom Where You’re Planted.” Meetings are held the third Monday of the month at the Cuyahoga Public Library Parma-Snow Branch on 2121 Snow Road at 1:00 p.m. If you’re interested in joining, call 440-842-4313.