Committee reimagines tree trail with new signs
Provided by Audrey Almdale
The Friends of Ouabache State Park are continuously looking for ways to enhance the visitors’ experience at the park. The Tree Trail is a prime example of how their efforts result in a new and exciting way to enjoy the park.
In July 2021, FOOSP president Al Arnold suggested it may be time to repair and revitalize Trail No. 3, which had been a tree trail in the past. Jody Heaston had designed it some years ago when working as the park naturalist. Heaston, Jim and Audrey Almdale, Patti Isch, Gladys Mitchel, Dave Lefforge, Quinn and Kathy Curry, Emily Moser and Rose Nevil volunteered to take on the challenge.
They started with the former tree trail plan. The earlier plan included placing numbered posts by the trees; the numbers matched descriptions in a brochure. The committee found that the identification posts were still there but were showing signs of age.
“We needed to identify the trees that were still present and decide what needed to be done to revitalize the trail,” Audrey Almdale said. “Next, we tossed around several ideas, but in the end decided to attach weatherproof signs to each post. The sign would have the name of the tree and QR code.”
The QR codes would take visitors to a site where they could find the descriptions and pictures of leaves and bark for each species.
“This meant we could eliminate the need for a paper brochure, and we would also be able to update the trail very easily if one of the trees died,” Almdale said.
The committee met several times in the fall to walk the trail, identify trees and add posts where needed.
“The work sessions were great – wonderful weather and good teamwork, with Patti Isch providing and painting new posts, and all together digging the holes and placing posts,” Almdale said.
During the winter season, Quinn Curry did the work of preparing the descriptions and creating QR codes. The signs were printed red to make them stand out and were ready to be posted along the trail in October 2022. The park all-terrain vehicle was brought out to transport the signs, hardware, drills, gravel and shovels for final securing of posts.
The committee identified 27 different species, which was not an easy task.
“We haven’t been able to identify a chinquapin oak or scarlet oak, so those signs aren’t posted yet. We were surprised that there were no sycamores to be found either,” Almdale said. “On the other hand, there are two shagbark hickories on the trail.”
New trees that were not on the old trail include the white and red pine, wild cherry, spice bush and tulip tree, which was planted near the beginning of the trail in order to have Indiana’s state tree represented.
The committee will periodically walk the 1-mile loop trail to enjoy the beauty of the woods in the changing seasons and to identify any maintenance needs.
The trailhead is near the northeast corner of Campground A.
“We hope to soon see signs posted at the entrance and we encourage our visitors to explore the trail,” Almdale said.
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