From Eyesore to Enchantment: Capital Strategic Solutions Celebrates Ken Calder’s Leadership in Developing Plainville’s Second Pollinator Garden

Jan 10, 2025

Capital Strategic Solutions’ Senior Project Manager Ken Calder recently acted as interim director for Plainville, Massachusetts’ department of public works. While assisting the department, Ken worked to complete many outstanding projects, including the transformation of a stormwater control area that had become an eyesore into a neighborhood benefit. Ken began his role as Interim Public Works Director for the town in July 2024.

Prior to Ken’s involvement, Plainville’s Department of Public Works (DPW) had identified a large problem area as a collection point of stormwater for several surrounding neighborhood blocks and installed drains and a control system to help correct the issues, but the job still needed to be “finished,” according to Town Administrator Brian Noble.

For decades this area was an eyesore and a breeding ground for mosquitos and pests. It was also a common spot for dumping yard debris and dog waste, clogging the drainage system.

In July, Ken suggested transforming this area into a pollinator garden to appropriately use the space’s functionality while mitigating longstanding stormwater issues and supporting a greener community.

In August, Ken met with Bekah Sojka, a member of the facilities department who is also studying to become a conservation agent. Bekah and her coworkers in the facilities department worked together to create a planting plan for ground cover with various low-maintenance perennials, like Butterfly Bush, Rose of Sharon, and Clover. The facilities team went to work preparing the plantings while local contractors helped to finalize the grading, loam, fencing, and signage. The result is the second pollinator garden in Plainville, a sustainable and visually appealing space everyone is happy to have, including the town’s bees and butterflies.

“Working on the pollinator garden has been a truly rewarding experience,” Ken added. “It was an opportunity to address a long-standing stormwater issue and create something beautiful and beneficial for the environment and the community. Seeing the transformation of this space into a thriving habitat is a source of pride for the neighborhood, and it has been incredibly fulfilling. I’m grateful for the team's collaboration and the town's support in bringing this vision to life.”

The pollinator garden project was completed in late November. The town looks forward to spring and seeing the garden come to life.

“At CSS, we are dedicated to providing innovative, sustainable solutions that benefit both communities and the environment,” said CSS Chief Executive Officer Nichol Figueiredo. “Ken’s leadership in transforming a challenging stormwater issue into a thriving pollinator garden is a perfect example of how we turn ideas into reality. His efforts have addressed immediate concerns and created a lasting positive impact for the town of Plainville.”