Donigian Park Spring Fling

Donigian Park was buzzing on Saturday, April 11 as neighbors, friends, and families came together for our Spring Fling in the Pollinator Garden. It was one of those early spring days that reminds you why we all do this work, getting outside, getting your hands a little dirty, and sharing the space with people who care about the neighborhood.

About 30 neighbors showed up to help bring the garden into the new season. We cleaned up trash, pulled weeds, mulched all five raised beds, and planted native perennials like foamflower, windflower, and coral bells. The garden got a real reset, and you can already see things starting to wake up.

One of the new additions this year is a pollinator hotel, installed with help from River Ranger Andrew, who gave a quick demo on how it works and why it matters. It’s basically a habitat space for native bees and other pollinators to nest and thrive. Small structure, big impact, especially in urban green spaces like this one.

What made the day feel especially good is that a lot of what we were seeing started months ago. Back in October, during our planting day with Bloom RI’s Hope Springs Bulb Giveaway, neighbors planted hundreds of bulbs and corms across the park. Now they’re blooming right on cue, popping up through the soil like they never forgot their assignment.

We also had music, snacks, lawn games, and face painting, which turned the afternoon into more of a hangout than a workday. It was relaxed, welcoming, and full of familiar and new faces. That mix is what keeps these spaces alive.

This event was supported in part by the Narragansett Bay Commission 2026 Earth Day River Restoration Initiative Grant, which helps make this kind of hands-on community work possible