MONROE - Grassy wetland between the city's Park Place subdivision and the Green County Family YMCA could soon host a nature trail if Mayor Louis Armstrong's plans are approved by the city.
Armstrong met with members of the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners on Wednesday to discuss whether the Parks Department would be willing to aid in the maintenance of the 14-acre area. He submitted a tentative timeline, spanning over a year, with possible seedling and flower planting.
"We could take this a long way," Armstrong said.
So far, Armstrong said he discussed the feasibility of the trail with Director of Public Works Al Gerber regarding any engineering concerns and discussed zoning with inspector Ryan Lindsay. Neither stated any issues with the concept.
The goal is to enhance the area, and Armstrong said the trail could be as simple as clearing brush and mowing a pathway through the area. He added that he understood room may not be in the budget for parks officials and said they could begin simply before adding a number of plants to the area. Basically, Armstrong said, the proposed timeline could just be moved a year into the future.
Herbicide would be the bare minimum of costs in order to begin a nature trail. Garlan, at two-and-a-half gallons, would be an expense of roughly $200 to 600 a year. Planting seedlings and grasses or trees would be a one-time cost of $1,000 to 3,000. Armstrong said he was planning to request help from the Monroe Fund, an account set up from a donated estate which collects interest to be used for various organizations throughout the community.
Some day, he added, it could even be possible to build a conservation center along the trail to help teach kids about plants and animals native to the 14 acres. Plans to plant there would only include plants native to the wetlands. But Armstrong said that dream would take years to become feasible, and noted the establishment of the trail with little work was a stepping stone.
The board voted unanimously in support of the city moving forward with Armstrong's plans.
Armstrong met with members of the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners on Wednesday to discuss whether the Parks Department would be willing to aid in the maintenance of the 14-acre area. He submitted a tentative timeline, spanning over a year, with possible seedling and flower planting.
"We could take this a long way," Armstrong said.
So far, Armstrong said he discussed the feasibility of the trail with Director of Public Works Al Gerber regarding any engineering concerns and discussed zoning with inspector Ryan Lindsay. Neither stated any issues with the concept.
The goal is to enhance the area, and Armstrong said the trail could be as simple as clearing brush and mowing a pathway through the area. He added that he understood room may not be in the budget for parks officials and said they could begin simply before adding a number of plants to the area. Basically, Armstrong said, the proposed timeline could just be moved a year into the future.
Herbicide would be the bare minimum of costs in order to begin a nature trail. Garlan, at two-and-a-half gallons, would be an expense of roughly $200 to 600 a year. Planting seedlings and grasses or trees would be a one-time cost of $1,000 to 3,000. Armstrong said he was planning to request help from the Monroe Fund, an account set up from a donated estate which collects interest to be used for various organizations throughout the community.
Some day, he added, it could even be possible to build a conservation center along the trail to help teach kids about plants and animals native to the 14 acres. Plans to plant there would only include plants native to the wetlands. But Armstrong said that dream would take years to become feasible, and noted the establishment of the trail with little work was a stepping stone.
The board voted unanimously in support of the city moving forward with Armstrong's plans.