Arborist Chris Fischer provided an update on progress with the Lake Leatherwood City Park (LLCP) Gravity Trails Mitigation Project at the Nov. 20 Parks Commission meeting, reporting that those involved with the project are in the assessment stage of creating a map of habitat areas so they “can get a grip on where everything is.”
Fischer had announced at the Sept. 18 meeting he had helped to secure two grants through the Walton Family Foundation to work with Patti Erwin, former Arkansas Forestry Commission Urban and Community Forest Coordinator, to create a habitat mitigation plan including a thorough plant identification survey which would lead to a park management plan. The other grant would be directed toward creating an urban forest management plan.
He said he used grant funds to purchase iNaturalist software to plot the flora of LLCP on a map. He also intended to use the mapping to identify where bike trails might interfere with hiking trails, so the intersections could be modified. Another outcome would be improving signage to make the area more user friendly.
Fischer said the next step would be for Erwin to return with recommended activities for landscape improvements, such as identifying where they should remove scruffy stuff and plant trees. Long-term conservation projects include removing non-native cedars and introducing bluebird houses.
Parks Director Justin Huss noted the project could include use of the greenhouse at the Community Center for seedlings to be transplanted in the spring. Fischer added they could also engage high school students who are active in the new greenhouse at Eureka Springs High School. Commissioner Steven Foster added that other local groups, such as the Native Plant Society and the Master Gardeners, could participate.
Huss acknowledged Fischer’s contribution toward initiating this restoration effort at Leatherwood and said it was an important element in the dramatic progress made at the park during the past year.