Zoo Crew works in Forest Hill Park

Pictured (l to r): Dick Secor, Lyndsey Maruna, Casimier Weakley, Katrina Toone, Hilary Rizk, Elsa Johnson and Sarah Gridley. Photo by Tera Lackofi.

The Metroparks Zoo Crew, made up of teen volunteers, ages 14 to 17, have been working in Forest Hill Park this summer. They have been clearing trees from a sapling circle that had grown up under one of the venerable old oaks in the Great Meadow.

The sapling circle originated with the idea that the saplings, while still small, could be dug up and sold individually as part of a fund-raising effort to help with the care and feeding of all the big oaks in the meadow.

The acorns that produced the saplings fell during a mast year, and many of the saplings grew too close together to harvest without damage to the parent tree. A dozen or more saplings on the outer edge of the sapling circle, just beyond the parent tree's drip line, have been tagged to be saved. A few of these will be left to grow where nature placed them. The remainder of the smaller saplings will be transplanted in the fall to other locations in the Great Meadow as part of a tree replacement program.

The Metroparks has sent out from five to a dozen Zoo Crew volunteers each week. Zoo Crew teens come from all over the metropolitan area. Asked what their favorite job has been as Zoo Crew volunteers, the teens responded, "This one!" A sign saying "This tree has been adopted by the Zoo Crew" was placed on the tree in recognition of their efforts.

The Great Meadow Task Group of the East Cleveland Parks Association is working to organize a similar program for next summer.

Many important tasks remain, including clearing saplings under other Great Meadow trees and invasive species eradication. The Great Meadow Task Group will be promoting an Adopt-a-Tree" program, through which a Great Meadow tree will be fed and treated for the funguses that have been killing so many of the big trees in the parks.

For more information about volunteering in the park, the teen program, or Adopt-a-Tree, e-mail Elsa Johnson at vicnelsa@earthlink.net.

Elsa Johnson is a community volunteer.  

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Volume 3, Issue 9, Posted 9:21 AM, 08.02.2010