Most Castro Valley Residents know Don Castro Regional Park as a great place to fish, swim, or hike on a nice day. This winter, Castro Valley High’s Earth Team has been hard at work making sure that this remains true and that the park is a healthy representation of native landscapes.

With lots of help from Skyline High’s Earth Team, the group is continuing their work that they started last semester, creating new habitats and protecting native species in the park. Recently they have removed invasives, spread mulch, and pruned ornamental plants in an effort to beautify the park.

Though the swimming lagoon remains empty and the park sees few visitors this time of year, the interns know first hand how busy the park can be in the summer. Their work now will help to ensure that the park is ready for more visitors and is a beautiful place to visit come spring and summer.

Though satisfied with a few days’ work they put in to make their community a nicer place to live (for humans and native plant and animal species), the team still has plenty more to do at Don Castro before the busy season. They will be returning to the park in the coming months to continue their work, finishing just in time to relax by the swimming lagoon once it opens in May.