Contributed by Bear Creek Lake State Park Assistant Park Manager, Joey Dayton.
On Friday, April 23rd, participants from Bear Creek Academy,the Friends Of Bear Creek Lake State Park, and park staff worked together to plantfive trees inBear Creek Lake State Park’spicnic area. Claudia Swanson from Dirty Hands Garden Center spent many hours on the phone to locatefive healthy Northern Red Oaks for us to plant. Although native to this area, larger Northern Red Oaks proved difficult to find for sale.
The pine trees in our picnic area are showing their age and are easily damaged by storms, disease, and insects. Park staff have had to remove several in the last few years. The trees were purchased using funds donated by a nationwide contest presented by Odwalla. The new trees will help provide shade to park users in years to come as the pine trees die off.