Park keepers program growing

GAINESVILLE - The Park Keepers Adopt-A-Bed program continues to grow. Since September, two more groups have committed to planting and maintaining beds, making Wilshire Trails Park an even more beautiful place to visit.

For the Riverside Military Academy Environmental Group, Advisor Nick Scheman and cadets recently began mapping out their vision for what is to be a Georgia mountain habitat. Riverside selected a site within the native area of Wilshire Trails Park. Just above the wetland bog, adjacent to the covered bridge lies an area that Nick Scheman described as having "a lot of potential."

The project is situated alongside a hill, where a storm drain is stabilized by terraced concrete, and supported by railroad ties. Cadet Josh Belles provided a conceptual drawing for this area, which included planting native vegetation, such as a variety of ferns and vines that would conceal the existing concrete and crossties.

According to Scheman, the cadets will learn about native Georgia plant species, plant and land restoration, and long-term plant conservation techniques. Cadet Belles added, "This project is a lot of fun because we get to work with the land and the water. We're really learning a lot about native plants, erosion control, and planting in general."

These Riverside Military Academy cadets work after school and on weekends to help beautify Wilshire Trails Park.

Opting for the more colorful plant species, the McLaughlin family chose to adopt beds located in front of the Wilshire Pavilion, where they have recently planted an array of pansies. Michael and Cara McLaughlin decided this would be an ideal educational opportunity for their three sons, Andrew, 5; Sawyer, 3; and Elliot, 2.

"My favorite part of planting our flower bed was picking out the flowers and carrying rocks in my wagon," said Andrew. The McLaughlins used rocks out of the creek to use as a border for the bed, just as the Master Gardeners did weeks before.

Park Keepers is a component of Friends of the Parks' beautification effort. Families, civic organizations, schools, and businesses are welcome to participate.