3M Urban Ecology Restoration Grant digging in.

Volunteer Columbia had a great turn out for the Native Tree Planting event this past weekend at the 3M Urban Ecology Restoration Project. Volunteer Columbia has posted photos of the event here. Thanks to all who participated in this first of several planting events that will be held here.

Twin Lakes Recreation Area road is open

The final course of asphalt was installed today on the Twin Lakes Recreation Area entry road. There's still a lot to do and clean up but the road is open. Please keep an eye out for crews and materials such as top soil along the road.

Scotts Branch Trail

Work has begun on the first part of the Scotts Branch Trail. We are starting at Weaver St. and working our way back to Rollins Road with the 8' wide concrete trail.


Approximately 1/3 of the trail from Weaver to Rollins is completed. We have some grading and culvert pipe work to do and then, weather permitting, we should be able to complete the section from Weaver St. to Rollins Road by Dec. 1, 2011. Finish grading work, seeding and straw work will be ongoing into the Spring.

Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary

The grading for the parking lot at Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary is nearing completion. We have begun placing the gravel base rock to prepare the site for asphalt.

Maplewood Barn Update-Footing dug

The footing for the new barn was dug earlier today. Rebar will be placed and concrete should be poured in the footing. The slab should follow shortly. After that the pre-engineered panels will arrive and should go up quickly.

Base course of asphalt laid at Twin Lakes Rec Area

The base course of asphalt was laid earlier today at Twin Lakes Recreation Area. If the weather stays as predicted the final asphalt will be installed on Friday (11/18). There's still ditch work, removal of some old asphalt, seeding/strawing and landscaping to do but the road will be open. But please keep an eye out for crews doing the finishing work.

Twin Lake Rec Area Paving

The majority of the rock work got done in record time. Now the weather needs to cooperate a bit. There needs to be about 3 dry week days in row so the portions of the road getting an overlay can be swept and then the entire length of the road can be paved.

Hopefully the sweeping can occur on Monday or Tuesday of next week (11/14) with the paving immediately after.

3M Urban Ecology Restoration Grant takes to the air.

On 10/30/2011 Parks & Rec and the Stormwater Educator took part in an interview about the 3M wetlands project, amongst others. Please click to hear what was discussed. For additional information on KFRU's programming please click here.

Treekeepers and C.A.R.P event scheduled for Saturday, November 19th 2011

Treekeepers and C.A.R.P are co-hosting a native tree and shrub planting event scheduled for Saturday, November 19th 2011 at the site of the Urban Ecology Restoration Project funded in part by the 3M Foundation. Join us as we plant close to 500 trees and 500 shrubs suited for wetland and bottomland woods environment. Free snacks and beverages will be available to participants!! Exercise is FREE!!!