Building a Boardwalk in Losen Slote Park

Project Lead

Sep

Henry Pullin

Sep

MRRI has constructed an approximately 160-foot-long boardwalk on a trail in the forested wetlands of Losen Slote Park. The purpose of the boardwalk is to keep visitors out of the mud during the wet months and to protect the vernal pools that form in depressions along the park’s trails. Vernal pools are ephemeral pools that provide habitat for a variety of wildlife, some of which are rare or endangered. MRRI will ultimately construct additional stretches of boardwalk in other wet areas of Losen Slote Park in the future. In the first two years of the project, significant progress has already achieved. Native grasses like broomsedge (Andropogon virginicus) and purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis) are replacing invasive species, forming diverse mosaics that support wildlife for foraging, breeding, and migration. The pollinator habitat is successfully hosting blooming wildflowers, including beebalm (Monarda punctate), swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnate), and black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), attracting various insect pollinators. However, challenges such as herbivory, invasive plant encroachment, and limited water availability persist, prompting adjustments in ongoing management strategies. Shrub survival is improving with reinforced fencing and additional protections now in place. The project demonstrates the potential to restore ecological value to urban disturbed lands through proactive management. MRRI is building on this success by expanding efforts on Erie Landfill and developing strategies to alleviate the setbacks of 2024, including using a water trailer and better herbivory guards.

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