Volunteers in Norcross have restored a forest trail at Johnson Dean Park. The looping quarter-mile path dovetails existing deer trails with part of Gwinnett’s recently cleared sewer easement, crossing a stream and through 100+ year-old beech and tulip poplar trees. Once complete, the trail will host signage created by local schoolchildren identifying native plants and wildlife habitats.
Wood chips donated by Norcross-based Arbor-Nomics and 404CutTrees were added to those left by Gwinnett when it cleared the sewer easement to form the path. “Neighbors were pretty alarmed when they saw the county go in and start clearing the strip and chipping trees,” said Riehm. “But then someone suggested we piggyback onto the County’s work and use part of the easement for a trail. Our Parks Master Plan includes making Johnson Dean more accessible to visitors, but it was on the back burner…until it was pointed out that mulching a trail before everything grew back would save the city tens of thousands of dollars later.”
Organized by Norcross residents Charlotte Osborn and Tixie Fowler, volunteers ranged in age from 12 to 83, and included members of Sustainable Norcross and the City’s Parks & Greenspace Commission.
“This is an exciting project that will help Norcross maintain its accreditation as an Atlanta Regional Commission ‘Green Community’,” explains Sustainable Norcross’ past Chairperson Connie Weathers. “In 2011, Norcross became the third city to earn the ARC’s Gold Level award and we’re working with the City now on the re-certification application. Having the community engage and create this forest trail will help!”
Volunteers also obtained a proposal from Cascade Springs Forestry to manage invasive plants that were choking some parts of the park. Dense thickets of non-native greenery including English Ivy and Chinese Privet have been removed so visitors can fully enjoy views of the stream and natural wooded areas. It also encourages native plants to once again flourish, and this Spring, when ferns, wild herbs and native flowers begin to emerge, organizers plan to engage students from Summerour Middle School to help with the second phase of the trail’s development.
Information: sustainablenorcross@gmail.com or visit “Friends of Johnson Dean Forest” on Facebook.
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