The revitalization of Harmon Park in Herkimer is well underway thanks to Herkimer Central School District students in social studies teacher Caroline Lampert’s civics capstone class and agriculture teacher Talia Baker’s landscape design class.
During the 2023-24 school year, the students cleaned the park and designed and installed new features there. By the end of June, they completed the first phase of their project: removing old equipment, installing a garden, creating an inviting space for people at the park and setting up a “Little Free Library” for community members to enjoy.
Lampert and Baker said that many others at the school and in the community made the project possible.
“Thank you all for empowering our students to give back to their school and their community while learning so many valuable skills along the way,” Baker said. “Both classes hope that this is just the beginning of improvements to come to Harmon Park and other places in our community.”
Herkimer Central School District acquired Harmon Park and the nearby athletic fields in a “land swap” with the village of Herkimer last year. The civics capstone class chose renovation of the park as its 2023-24 project and partnered with the landscape design class.
Under the guidance of social studies teachers Lampert and Laura Scalise, Herkimer is leading the way among Mohawk Valley schools in embracing New York state’s civic readiness initiative. The goal is to develop students’ awareness of, enthusiasm for and practical skill-building needed to affect civic change. During the 2022-23 school year, three Herkimer students earned their Seal of Civic Literacy on their diploma, three more students completed it during the 2023-24 school year: Kyle Carney, James Hess and Nick Lamanna.
Lampert and Baker said the Harmon Park would not have been possible without the following people: Herkimer Superintendent Kathleen Carney and her trust in these classes to create a space for students and community members; Jim McKernan and the facilities team at Herkimer High School for removing playground equipment as well as dirt and mulch; local carpenter Brian Larzelere of Larz Cabinets who provided his time, guidance and tools for students to build the Little Free Library; Matt Collis who also provided his time, post hole digger and guidance to install the Little Free Library at Harmon Park, and Stumpin’ by Mike LLC who donated wood chips for this project.
Students in agriculture enrichment classes were responsible for installing the first educational garden at Harmon Park. Students learned about the “three sisters” planting method, which according to the United States Department of Agriculture is the traditional method of companion planting that was done by the Haudenosaunee Confederacy across New York state. Students learned that when corn, squash and beans were planted next to each other, one crop benefits the next and all were staple foods of the Haudenosaunee people. Students planted gem corn, climbing string beans and multiple varieties of squash. For the month of June, students were responsible for mulching and watering the area to ensure that the crops would grow.
In civics class, students Carney, Hess Lamanna, wanted to collaborate with Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School Library Media Specialist Brianne Bello to provide a place where students and community members alike could access free books. Landscape design students then began planning on where in the park the Little Free Library should be located and how the classes could encourage people to enjoy outdoor spaces while reading or visiting the park.
Both classes worked with Larzelere, who came in to teach students how to use different tools and equipment in the shop as well as how to read plans to create the Little Free Library. The students all participated in the construction of the library and had to overcome some fears of using equipment. Students, however, surpassed their own expectations and were able to install the Little Free Library in June.
“We hope that members of the community will come down to Harmon Park to drop off and take books,” Baker said.
Herkimer Central School District civics capstone students and landscape design students helped revitalize Harmon Park in Herkimer with a Little Free Library and educational garden. Pictured at the park, from left, kneeling in front: agriculture teacher Talia Baker, social studies teacher Caroline Lampert and local carpenter Brian Larzelere. Standing in back: Herkimer Jr./Sr. Library Media Center licensed teaching assistant Ashley Sommer, student Althea Brown, student Haley Gerhardt, student Kyle Carney, student Nick Lamanna, student James Hess and Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School Library Media Specialist Brianne Bello.
Herkimer students Kayne Hart and Landon Palkovic mulching and watering the “three sisters” educational garden students set up at Harmon Park.
Herkimer student Kyle Carney, who graduated in June, installing a Little Free Library at Harmon Park in Herkimer.
Herkimer Jr./Sr. Library Media Center licensed teaching assistant Ashley Sommer and Herkimer Jr./Sr. High School Library Media Specialist Brianne Bello add books to the new Little Free Library at Harmon Park in Herkimer.
Herkimer student Haley Gerhardt using a circular saw with local carpenter Brian Larzelere to prepare to install a Little Free Library at Harmon Park in Herkimer.
Herkimer student Nick Lamanna using a pocket hole jig to prepare to install a Little Free Library at Harmon Park in Herkimer.
Herkimer student Adam Waltz using a circular saw to cut the back of the Little Free Library to prepare to install the library at Harmon Park in Herkimer.
Herkimer students Mariah DelRio and Dominic Peruzzi shoveling and hauling mulch to the educational garden students set up at Harmon Park.
A Little Free Library set up by students at Harmon Park in Herkimer is filled with books.
Corn, squash and beans are growing in the “three sisters” educational garden that Herkimer students set up at Harmon Park in Herkimer.
A Little Free Library and other improvements led by Herkimer students and teachers makes Harmon Park in Herkimer a nice place to relax.