To the editor:
Early one evening as my wife and I were driving home west on South Street, I was surprised to see the side streets jammed with parked cars and the urban forest area around the information kiosk jammed with people. There were lots of children and a large number of adults in attendance for the “Pumpkin Walk” on the park trails.
It was especially moving for me in that use of the forest for educational and recreational purposes was one of the reasons for creating the forest in the flood plain created by the flood of 2008. Without the support of many local residents and the generous contributions made by Mr. and Mrs Peter Crist in memory of their son, our grandson, the forest may not have come to pass.
I am sure my late son, John Robert Crane, who was born and raised to age 6 here in Franklin, would also be immensely pleased with the project.
We have not yet reached the original projected amount of trees (4,500), but there will still be a few more planted next spring and continued planting of replacements will be ongoing as a part of forest management.
The parks department has done a great job of keeping the park mowed and trimmed and the addition of the wild flower planting has enhanced the attraction of the area. As the trees are maturing and growing taller, some maintenance may be reduced to allow the trees to develop ground cover and to self reproduce.
Roses also go to the Johnson County Public Library in Franklin for adding the innovative book trail walk to enhance the educational value of the project for the youngsters. As Loretta and I drove through Brown County State Park in late October, we were particularly impressed by the height and density of the hardwood trees there, remembering that most of that growth was planted in the early 1930’s by the CCC, a government agency.
I can only imagine what the current forest will be in 85 years. Some of the children that helped in planting here will still be around to enjoy and remember how it once was.
Thanks to everyone who has helped with either time and effort or donations.
Jim Crane
Franklin
