By Jondi Gumz
A group founded three months ago to promote ecological harmony and improve safety and access for active transportation in the Nisene Gateway area will host its first public event, “Beers & Shears Wines & Vines,” at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 30, to cut invasive ivy from oak trees in Aptos Village Park.
Volunteers are needed to cut invasive ivy from the oak trees at Aptos Village Park • Photo Credit: Todd Marco
Nisene Rio Gateway aka NRG invites local residents to pitch in, follow COVID-19 safety protocols, and enjoy a beverage afterward as time permits.
“Some of my friends in the area have developed a passion for clearing Nisene Gateway of invasive ivy,” said Todd Marco, founder of NRG, which initially was known as Nisene Gateway Improvement Project.
“As the ivy consumes sections of our beautiful forest, it overtakes & kills large trees,” he said. “A number of spectacular oak trees in Aptos Village Park are currently being threatened. They are such gorgeous oak trees.”
Marco, who with his family moved to Aptos Creek Road last July, talked with Patrice Edwards, Aptos Times publisher, and Aptos resident and loyal government watchdog Becky Steinbruner, about safety issues on the narrow and winding road, which has been deluged with cars, cyclists and people on foot headed to the 10,000-acre Nisene Marks State Park for respite in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Discussions with State Parks Superintendent Joe Walters, who manages 29 parks, led to: a revamped entry into Nisene Marks to better accommodate incoming traffic; installation of “no parking” signs to better accommodate ambulances and fire engines responding to medical emergencies; making a broken pay phone operational to call for help as there is no WiFi for mobile phone; pothole repairs and $34,000 worth of paving plus slurry seal to make Aptos Creek Road smooth all the way from Mangels Gulch to the Nisene Marks entrance kiosk — with a safer path on the shoulder for pedestrians.
Marco, a hardware engineer, started a Facebook group to focus on safety issues in the Nisene Gateway area, a group that in three months has grown to more than 200 members.
County parks staff have approved the ivy-clearing project, which is generating enthusiasm among neighbors.
“Woo hoo! It is on the calendar :)” wrote biology teacher Catherine Handschuh via email. “Thank you so much for organizing and getting the ball rolling.”
Marco said he’s experienced with proper ivy removal techniques, which means “not yanking the vines off the branches, which damages the trees, but instead cutting ivy at the base and letting Nature do the rest.”
He has been working to establish Nisene Rio Gateway as a 501c (3) nonprofit, which would allow the group to accept tax-deductible donations and solicit sponsorships from local businesses to support the vision of “a world-class connection to our spectacular natural amenities with reduced reliance on vehicle use, less traffic congestion, and relieved parking challenges.”
Since the yearlong pandemic is keeping a hold on Santa Cruz County – we’re in the Orange Tier, and because the case rate hasn’t dropped low enough long enough, as of May 11, we haven’t been able to move to the less restrictive Yellow Tier.
This means respecting county guidance on outdoor gatherings, limiting the number of attendees and encouraging social distancing.
Or as Marco put it, “No hugs people, not yet.”
People who volunteer on May 30 will get a chance to do good, meet their neighbors safely, and learn more about Nisene Rio Gateway.
Mark your calendar.