Canal Clean Sweep coming to Erie Canal
In honor of Earth Day, from April 26 to 28, groups across the state will take to the Erie Canal to help keep the canal clean as part of Canal Clean Sweep.
Locally, a group of scouts from Binghamton will join the Place family at a stretch of the canal in Memphis at Bennett Corners Road, about three miles west of the Sims Store on the canal in Warners.
This will mark the ninth year the Place family has participated in this effort.
“We have worked with scouts each year,” Regina place said. “This will be our ninth year participating in caring for our section of the Erie Canal. Of particular interest is a park that was established in 2010 as a memorial to my son, Bryan M. Place.”
Place said this section of the canal has two park benches, a stone wall and several hundred feet of gardens, which she and her husband, Gary, tend to every year.
Bryan M. Place was a native of Elbridge who graduated from Jordan-Elbridge High School in 1989, where he was active cross country runner.
He went on to study and Cayuga Community College and the University of Connecticut where he continued to run as well major in economics.
Bryan was a well known financial expert and president and founder of Place Financial Advisors of Manlius.
Bryan frequently appeared on television and online and in print.
He was listed several times in the top 150 financial advisors for doctors in “Medical Economics” and was named a member of Cambridge’s 2010 Premier Club as an outstanding advisor.
Bryan was also a father and husband.
After he passed, Place said her family wanted to do something to honor her son.
Place said she grew up in Memphis and the canal held a special place in her life.
Reaching out to the Town of Van Buren, the Place family gained permission to create the memorial garden.
“The garden evolved from there,” Place said. “There are no 3oo feet of gardens now. It is really beautiful.”
Creating the garden was no small task.
Place said this section of the canal fell into disuse in the early 1900s and largely went untouched for decades.
“It is a beautiful place to visit,” Place said.
Creating and maintaining this beauty is largely managed by the Place family, but the family has received help from others.
Along with worked with scouts each year for the Canal Clean Sweep, others like Mike Bennink, an Eagle Scout and student and Jordan-Elbridge, recently completed an Eagle Scout project where he built and installed a new bench at the memorial park.
“He really did a wonderful job,” Place said. “It means a lot to us and we are so happy with what he did.”
Bennink said he was considering projects when the idea came to him.
“I wanted to do something on the canal trail to help Mrs. Place,” Bennink said. “I knew I wanted to do something for them.”
Bennink organized and planned the project including obtaining materials and organizing the building and installation.
“I thought about building it at my house and taking it to the trail,” Bennink said. “But then we decided it would be easier to build it there. We did it over two days.”
In addition to helping the Place family, Bennink said he was happy to create something that would help others who traveled the canal trail providing a place to rest and enjoy the park to the many who visit and hike the trail.
Being a scout since he was in kindergarten, Bennink said it was an honor to achieve the Eagle Scout rank, but most important, he was honored to do something to help others.
“People have told me they appreciate it,” Bennink said. “It feels good to help other people and I encourage other scouts that are thinking about their projects to consider doing something like this.”
As spring slowly settles into the region, Place said the bench is a great addition to the memorial park and she is looking forward to the warmer days ahead when the area comes into bloom.
In the meantime, she is looking forward to the clean sweep and encourages anyone interested in volunteering some time to consider coming out to help.
According to Place, in terms of trash and other items, the canal is fairly clean, but there are always weeds and over growth to contend with.
“Anyone who wants to help is welcome,” Place said.
