Council supports arboretum, garden project

BY MARCELLE HANEMANN
The Daily News
Published/Last Modified on Friday, September 18, 2009 9:07 AM CDT


A joint project now in the preliminary stages will transform the old Avenue F ball park site into an arboretum/botanical garden, and the city council unanimously approved a resolution in support of the project during its regular meeting Tuesday.

The approximately 3.5 acre softball park was dismantled and has remained unused since about a year ago, Judy Gray, arboretum project manager said Wednesday. The space is currently partially wooded and partially cleared.

Gray said the existing large trees would remain on-site, but additional trees and other plants would be added to make the property “a place where students, garden club members, master gardeners, forestry students, agriculture classes, 4-H club members and anyone else who is interested can become more educated about our native plant life.”

Judy Gray, project manager for the Arboretum Project, stands on the site of the old Avenue F ball park, which will be transformed into an arboretum/botanical garden thanks to a community partnership. The Bogalusa City Council passed a resolution in support of the project Tuesday.

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“We have applied for a tree grant from the Apache Tree Foundation for over 100 trees to be planted at the site,” she said. “And we already have a mature live oak donated from Money Hill Plantation that will be the centerpiece for the whole area.”

The Louisiana Department of Transportation has also committed to establishing a wildflower planting along the front of the site, said Gray.

She said she hopes to receive a decision on the ATF grant within the next couple of months. 

The project represents a partnership between the city, the LSU Ag Center Cooperative Extension Office, the Washington Parish Master Gardeners, Keep Washington Parish Beautiful and all the garden clubs located in the city as “a unified effort for our community,” Gray said in a letter to the council.

The project has been endorsed by state Sen. Ben Nevers, Rep. Harold Ritchie and Bogalusa Mayor Mack McGehee, she added.

On Wednesday, Gray said she is pleased the council acted in support of the “positive” joint project.

“I’m excited,” she said. “Everyone is excited.”

 

Copyright © 2010 Daily News

Comments

    Grant Funds... wrote on Sep 21, 2009 8:56 AM:

    " Mr. Miller what other grants are available? Are you assisting Ms. Gray by writing proposals to any funding sources for this project? I think this falls well within the City Grant Writer roll that you are paid! "

    Kathleen Flick wrote on Sep 20, 2009 2:09 AM:

    " This is what should have been done with the neutral grounds, instead of spending $50,000 on crape myrtles, which are everywhere, overused, invasive and non-native. Merely because the old ones had been "pruned wrong" was no reason to replace them. One wonders if a friend of the administration profited from this unnecessary expenditure.

    Planting native shrubs would have at least provided wildlife habitat, even if it had cost the same amount of money. Perhaps even opened the citizens' eyes to the loveliness and uses of native plants in landscaping. "

    Edmond Chandler wrote on Sep 19, 2009 4:56 PM:

    " "
    “I’m excited,” she said. “Everyone is excited.”

    Good for you, Judy Gray ... This is a positive step in the right direction for our Bogalusa.

    I'm all for this project! "If it's good for Bogalusa, I'm all for it!"

    I am told that there are other grants available for the asking. Are we checking around for other grant money?

    Ed Chandler "

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