Odd Fellows provide outdoor sanctuary for April’s Grove residents

||| FROM ALYSHA SHERBURNE for OPAL COMMUNITY LAND TRUST |||

This is one of those stories that puts a smile on your face; a story of community members coming together to do something nice for one another. Plain, simple, yet in its own way extraordinary. To the untrained eye it looks like nothing more than a well-designed area of landscaping for the townhomes at April’s Grove, OPAL Community Land Trust’s neighborhood of affordable rentals in Eastsound. But for Robin Kucklick, who spearheaded the project, it is so much more than that. To him, and to the three generations of Odd Fellows who worked on the installment, curating this patio piece was about serving their community.

Odd Fellows volunteers working on new patio space at April’s Grove townhomes in Eastsound. Photo by Kathryn Kier

This is why they chose a central location, just outside the communal laundry building. It gives residents a serene place to rest while they wait for laundry to finish. Kids can play together; neighbors can catch up on their lives. It encourages interactions among residents.

Robin had been following the development of April’s Grove closely as he was hired to both design and install the landscaping around the neighborhood. He greatly appreciated how much care the OPAL team took to keep select trees on the property, and he wanted to help create a space that encouraged people to spend time outside together.

However, the patio project was a volunteer labor of love for Robin, separate from the work he was hired to do. For this piece he recruited several other Odd Fellows to help, including Jesse Herzog, Didier Gincig, Eric Morris and George Post. Kathryn Kier also provided support and fresh baked cookies to keep the team energized. Together they raised funds from community members to help cover the cost of materials for the patio, then volunteered their time and expertise so this new area could be a gift to the 45 families who live in April’s Grove.

A member of the Odd Fellows for 30 years, Robin loves taking on projects like this one. For him, half the fun was getting the group together and discussing the design on site; each member fitting stones together like pieces of a puzzle.

Surrounding the patio, wildflowers and meadow grasses were planted to keep a natural feel to the space. Robin also intends to build a couple of benches to place around the new patio when his time allows.

A project such as this does a lot to amplify the dedication to community service that the Odd Fellows have. Not only did they take on the initiative, but they also found a way to donate the new space to those residents it directly benefits. There is no doubt this area will remain a central gathering place to the community living at April’s Grove.

To see more photos of the patio project, go to Instagram @opalcommunitylandtrust.