By Stephanie Johns
Staff Writer

Members of the Greenspace Commission have agreed to work up a draft of their trails project and share it with the Madison mayor and council. As discussed during their recent meeting, there are three steps that they need to take at this point.

First, they need to create a concept plan for the trails. They expect to do approximately 75 percent of the work and have a trails consultant provide the “fine tuning.”

Second, they need to create a detailed concept plan.

Third, they need to consider how the trail might tie into the improvements going on at Washington Park and the KaBoom! grant that is being used there.

City Planner Monica Callahan noted that the Georgia Recreational Trails Grant that they are looking at to assist with the trails project has a pre-Thanksgiving deadline.

Regarding the $15,000 KaBoom! grant, they have received a $30,000 donation and are looking for $5,000 more. Donations may be made through the KaBoom! website at www.kaboom.org.

Dream Day for the Washington Park playground will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. on Nov. 3 at CrossRoads School near the park. Children will have an opportunity to share their ideas about what they would like to see in the new playground. An art event and snacks will be offered.
Commission members discussed how Councilman Joe DiLetto and his Neighborhood Advisory Team have agreed to go throughout the area close to the park to inform residents about Dream Day.

Tree planting also was discussed – they have approximately 40 trees to plant throughout the city.

Vice Chairman Rick Crown said he has received requests for elm trees to be planted along Academy St. They expect to plant six there and another six along Old Post Road.

Commission members also discussed planting some trees at the city’s new property on Burney Street.
The tops of the sycamore trees on South Main have died and are on the city’s “cut list.” Once the trees come down there will be room between those areas to plant trees.

More trees will be planted along Saye Creek and 441.

Chairman David Land asked if rights of way have to be “tree deserts.” Callahan answered that they did not and cited the airport industrial area as a right of way with trees.

Also, one homeowner has requested they consider planting in a triangular area formed by the sidewalk in front of his home. Callahan suggested understory trees or shrubbery because of utility lines hanging over the area.

Trees in the right of way at the hospital have been cut down. Also, Chris Lambert said she had been asked by hospital administration to visit the campus. She shared that the hospital wants to remove trees and bushes on the property.

Commission members talked about offering the hospital feedback on its landscaping plans. They noted that a previous feedback scenario between Crown and the city regarding landscaping at the courthouse had been “successful.”

As to the Ricketts Grants, they have received 10 applications and have two applications still available. Fundraising for the grant is going well, according to Callahan. They have reached the 20 percent mark toward their $1,000 goal. She noted that they received a “generous match” during their Ricketts fundraising last year.

Printed in the October 25, 2012 edition