Bio Friendly Park Project
By: Jaimie Weiss
Updated: October 12, 2007
Some much needed construction at Wessleman woods is almost complete tonight.
Theyre fixing an access road for emergency vehicles.
But the project is not typical.
Construction work at Wessleman Woods was long overdue.
"The fire access road kept collapsing year after year it finally got to the point where we couldnt get a brush truck on it," says Park Director Alice Rademacher.
Thats a big danger if fire breaks out at the park.
But fixing the problem could have brought its own potential dangers, exotic invasive plants.
"If you want to see one plant in nature preserve put the invasive plants come in."
Thats when intern Blaire Borries stepped in with a bio friendly plan.
"The exposed soil will be covered in native grasses offering food and cover for wildlife."
And no threat of invasive plants typical in this type of project.
The project offers more than just safety for the park the native grasses have a stronger root system preventing more erosion.
It took two years to develop the project and it costs more money than the typical fix.
But its worth the time and the price if it means keeping the park safe from dangerous plants and dangerous erosion.
The project was funded by a grant from ALCOA
Borries says it wont need any maintaince - except occasionally cleaning brush from the access road area.
