The group called the Keller Mayflower Park Neighbors has joined forces with Roseville Parks and Recreation to improve their neighborhood park including adding nearly a dozen new trees. 

It’s been a really fun collaboration,” said Sara Stafford, whose backyard borders the park. “We’ve had permission from the city to do all the work. We take a lot of pride and ownership in the park.” 

The group includes Pete and Nancy Salmon, Breanne and Will Sallee, Tarrie Culbert, Sara Stafford and Bruce Johnson. 

Neighbors have:

• Donated and planted nearly a dozen new trees including Fat Albert Colorado Spruce, Northern Red Oak and White Spruce. Residents wanted evergreens to add color and texture in the winter months. Diversifying the urban canopy is also of critical importance as ash trees succumb to the invasive emerald ash borer, neighbors say.
• Cleared out invasive plants including buckthorn, garlic mustard, thistle, burdock and dead trees and brush.
• Planted flowers at the park entrance and added ferns in the areas bordering the woodlands.
• Installed a whimsical Little Free Library in the shape of a city park pavilion.
• Touched up the paint on the park sign.
• Dick & Darlene Gannon worked with the city and had a memorial park bench installed.

City Parks staff has repaired a broken picnic table, hauled away the invasive foliage and trees removed by neighbors, provided the flowers, mulch and paint. 

Sara said the park is used for neighborhood potlucks, impromptu family kickball games and just a quiet moment away from the hustle and bustle. Sara said Roseville Parks Superintendent Jim Taylor and his team have also been integral to the collaboration.  

Keller Mayflower Park is one of 32 city parks covering 679 acres. Keller Mayflower will host the Discover Your Parks event on Aug. 2. Roseville Parks and Recreation Director Matthew Johnson thanked residents for helping keep the city’s green spaces vibrant and maintained. 

“This is such a wonderful example of members of the community going above and beyond and taking ownership to augment and expand upon the service that we can provide as a City,” Johnson said. “It’s one of the many reasons that I consider myself as very lucky to be able to work in this community. “ 

Neighbors Pete and Nancy Salmon donated the three large Fat Albert Colorado Spruce on the south side of the park.

“As a resident of 32 years, my wife Nancy and I have an interesting perspective,” Pete said. 

When the Salmons moved into the neighborhood in the 1990s, they watched their next door neighbors care for the park sign flowers and pick up litter in the neighborhood. 

“It was taking ownership and understanding what it takes to make a community thrive,” Pete said. 

The Salmons now relish contributing to the park – keeping it beautiful for a new generation of families and role modeling that stewardship. 

 “We see the continuity of community involvement and the resulting benefits,” Pete said. “We especially appreciate the opportunity to work with the city on improvements like this!”