Story and photos by Marina Ramos
“One must bring nature into the reach of man and, above all, take man back to nature.” — Roberto Burle Marx, Brazilian landscape architect
When I first moved to Candler Park in the fall of 2021, my favorite thing about the neighborhood was its close proximity to stores, cafés and restaurants. The neighborhood’s walkability reminded me of the likes of Brooklyn or San Francisco. Today, while I still appreciate the convenience, I can no longer claim that the urban appeal is what I love the most about living here.
Instead, the top spot has been taken by the barred owls, the hawks, the tortoises and all sorts of wildlife that, like me, call Candler Park home. I was quick to realize that to share this space with nature is a privilege. And the other side of privilege, my parents taught me, is always duty.
Which leads me to the cleanup I helped organize with Clean Walks on April 13th. A few weeks prior, I had noticed the creek that runs through our neighborhood was concernedly backed up with litter. A few posts on the neighborhood Facebook group and a few more emails later, we had a set date for a cleanup with many enthusiastic neighborhood volunteers to boot.
On a chilly Saturday morning, more than 20 engaged volunteers — neighbors and Clean Walks veterans alike — showed up with energy, wide smiles and a chainsaw. We were able to fill 25 bags of trash from the creek and its surrounding areas relatively quickly. Together, we removed:
- Rubber mats
- An old mattress
- Two wheel covers
- Enough tennis and golf balls to start our own little tournament!
A reminder that with a few grabbers, garbage bags and a healthy amount of goodwill, we can accomplish a whole lot. But above all, it was an opportunity for all of us who participated to live up to Burle Marx’s wish to bring man back to nature — if only for a morning.
Marina Ramos, a three-year resident of Candler Park, lives on Page Avenue Northeast