Green Saves Green Member Meeting Minutes

Monday, June 8

5:30 p.m., Pasquotank County Library

Present: Martha Ann, Beth Bill, Karl Brandspiegel, Colleen Brown, Don Campbell, Nita Coleman, Vanessa Consford, Lisa Dana, Ed Eadie, Nancy Eadie, Julian Eure, Annette Garthwaite, Woody Garthwaite, Laura Granado, Marlene Greer, Rodney Johnson, Linda Jones, Charles Jordan, David Jordan, MaryAnn Jordan, Bill Kruse, Sue Kruse, Lee Leidy, Scott Marable, Sue Miller, Ali Rooney, Andy Rosewall, Angela Sutton, Abigail Villalba, Gail Ward, Terry S.

Chair Report

We’ve done three litter cleanups in two weeks. Saturday’s Trashmasters cleanup of downtown Elizabeth City and public parks had 30 volunteers. They spent two hours and filled 20 bags of litter. Thirteen River Road Middle School students cleaned up the adjacent Sports Park. Annette and Marlene did a river sweep of Charles Creek, overfilling their kayaks with 7 bags and two buckets of trash.

We got litter poster signs up at 8 of the 11 schools and all the county convenience sites. We completed the sign site plan for E.C. Public Works and are working with them to get the signs installed.

Pasquotank Paddle Trails & Park Renovations - Guest Speaker Katie Finegan, Weston & Sampson

Causeway Park: The contractor is expected to begin construction in July and finish by January 2027. The company will replace about 900 feet of boardwalk along the Pasquotank River, and add ADA parking and accessibility, a floating platform kayak launch, and rain gardens at the entrance. 

Pasquotank Blueways Feasibility Study: Weston & Sampson is only looking at publicly owned property from Morgan’s Corner area to downtown Elizabeth City for possible access points. The study will provide a comprehensive design for a potential trail system with multiple access points and will be completed by April 2027. The firm is looking for input and some paddlers willing to volunteer to scout and map certain sections of the river. Katie invited those present to attend the Community Engagement event set for June 9 at the ECPC Senior Center to share their thoughts on what makes a good paddle trail, check out the maps, and sign up to scout. The event runs 4:30-6:30pm and people can drop in anytime.

College Park: The renovation of College Park is still in the concept phase. The city sent out a survey to see what people see as the most important amenities. Some of the concept ideas include a rain garden, nature-based shoreline area, and kayak launch.

Upcoming Events

  • June 10, 10:30-11:30am – Fowley Alley spruce-up and pollinator plants. Volunteers: Nita, Julie, Marlene

  • June 23, 1-2pm – Enviroscape Class. NC Sea Grant educator Christy Perrin will give a class on how to use an Enviroscape in teaching pollution, flooding, soil erosion, and water quality at Port Discover. Anyone interested is welcome to join. Let Marlene know. We’re looking at this as a possible tool to include in our Student Environmental Education program. A class with Port Discover campers will follow.

  • June 24, 2-2:30pm – Importance of Pollinators and the Food We Eat. 35 K-3 students in a Summer Literacy program. Be a pollinator activity and paint wood butterflies. Volunteers: Marlene, Julie, and Abigail

  • June 25, 1:45-2:45pm – Fowley Alley field trip. Summer Literacy K-3 students install their painted butterflies and place their painted rocks in the garden. Volunteers: Marlene, Julie, and Abigail

  • June, July & August – Monthly Watershed Watch Sampling


Other Business

Rodney is willing to set up an overnight camping paddle trip in the fall if enough people are interested. A signup sheet was passed around. Rodney will advise those who signed up of the date. Contact Rodney if you would like to be included.

Next meeting will be Monday, September 14, 5:30 p.m. at the Pasquotank County Library. No meetings in July or August.