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Board reviews Broadmore plantings, Friendship Hill maintenance and library’s story-walk transfer
Summary
Volunteers planted 49 trees and shrubs at Broadmore Park; board discussed persistent maintenance challenges at Friendship Hill and accepted the library board’s offer to relinquish the story-walk materials to parks staff for repurposing.
Board members reviewed several parks projects, including recent volunteer plantings at Broadmore Park and ongoing maintenance problems at Friendship Hill, and discussed the future of a story walk the library board is relinquishing.
At Broadmore Park, members reported a volunteer workday in which 49 trees and shrubs ordered through the Upper Wabash Invasives network (through DNR programs) were planted; staff said machinery failures slowed earth-moving work and that the site will take about three years to reach its intended appearance. Broadmore is maintained in part by eight master gardeners, who the board said will continue to care for the site and have selected native, low-maintenance species such as coneflowers and black-eyed Susans.
Friendship Hill drew attention for its many small flower beds, which board members said have proven difficult to maintain. The board discussed options including reducing the number of beds, replanting with native, lower-maintenance species, recruiting churches or volunteer groups, or hiring a contractor. Board members said previous efforts to find volunteer stewards were only partially successful.
The board also discussed a story walk originally installed in 2019. The library board decided to step away from ownership and transfer materials to the parks department; parks staff said they will retain most posts, consider repairing or consolidating dented or leaning posts, and explore relocating or updating content to align with the library expansion and eastern trails. Board members asked for a short formal letter or documentation from the library board to record the transfer; staff said the change will be reflected in library minutes and recommended a brief document to clarify responsibilities.
Board members encouraged community involvement for ongoing maintenance and noted several upcoming volunteer opportunities.
