Thursday, October 1, 2026
If you’ve walked by the shabby outcropping of weeds and reeds that, until recently, comprised the southwest corner of Milburn Creek Park, you’ve probably noticed a change. And if you weren’t previously familiar with the park, it’s hard to imagine that you didn’t at least take note of the colorful proliferation of flowers and decorative shrubs that have graced the commons — near the intersection of Fox and Wilddale roads — for the past couple of months.
No, this extravagant display wasn’t the result of some rogue incident of largess on the part of the Parks Department — although the parks people have reportedly been extremely gracious in respecting the garden. It was the effort, sweat and raw hard work of some self-starting, community-minded souls that created the display of nature’s bounty.
Fifty-year Baldwin resident and retired hairdresser Agness Fazzolare has spearheaded the project, along with her neighbors and self-described “partners in crime,” Pat Berntsen and Laurie Rieger. A loosely incorporated assortment of husbands, sons, daughters and helpful parks personnel have also pitched in, pulling weeds, turning soil and planting a bulb or two along the way.
The seeds for the project were, quite literally, planted in the spring, when Fazzolare decided that the park, which is across the street from her house, was due for a makeover. “I love to grow and propagate plants,” she told the Herald in her customary energized manner. “And I’m always giving things away. Sometimes when I’m working in my garden and someone walking by pays me a compliment, I’ll just cut a bulb in half right there and share it with them. For years I’ve made a yearly donation of bulbs and cuttings to a thrift store in Freeport — they call me the ‘garden lady’ — but this year I just thought it would be nice to see the flowers and plants in the park. To give it some attention.”
