Parks staff: 25 oak trees planted at Shavana; Earth Day event set for April 22

Ken, a county parks staff member, told the Property Committee on April 10 that volunteers planted 25 oak trees obtained through a grant at Shavana; the trees line a newly established prairie and staff plan to install fencing to protect them from deer.

Ken said the county’s nature center renovation is nearly finished and that he will provide photos at a future meeting once TVs and displays are fully installed. He told members that Soil & Water plans an Earth Day event at Catelyn on April 22, and that the outreach generally targets schools countywide on a first-come, first-served basis.

On operations, Ken said crews are performing spring herbiciding targeting reed canary grass, garlic mustard and regrowth of invasive shrubs such as autumn olive. He described areas of steeper trails that have suffered erosion and said repairs will be scheduled. He also reported a mower whose wiring was chewed by mice; staff are preparing equipment and expect to begin mowing as weather allows.

Committee members asked about potential volunteer projects (for example, a ball diamond or volleyball court) and whether a donor might provide labor; Ken said volunteers had offered time but no firm financial donation had been confirmed and that he would follow up.

The parks update closed with routine operational notes about upcoming mowing and cleanup work ahead of the summer season.