Plains park gets new trees

The Town of Plains has taken its first steps toward a beautification project of enhancing the E.L. Johnson Memorial Park, starting with the planting of five large trees.

Rick Jennison hauled the trees from his tree farm in Ronan recently, finishing up last Sunday. Jim Henry of Plains, who went to high school with Jennison, helped with the project. The trees ranged from 18-25 feet in height and included two red maples, two Norway maples, and a sycamore. The trees are all about 20 years old and cost $500 each. Plains Mayor Dan Rowan said that because the trees were for the community, Jennison reduced his price by several hundred dollars per tree.

Jennison, who's been in the tree business 44 years, said it's like the trees were "coming home" because he purchased them as saplings from Lawyer Nursery. He used his heavy duty mechanical tree spade to remove some 4,000 pounds of dirt from each site, some down 42 inches and 60 inches wide. He used the same machine to carefully lower each tree into the holes. It took Jennison about a week to transport the trees one by one from Ronan to the Plains park.

"The trees are the first part of a general plan to make a few small improvements at the park," said Rowan, who has been planning to get the shade trees since last fall. "I have noticed many times that people gather in the shade of the maple that is over by the wading pool during the summer months when it is hot," said Rowan. The mayor said they're looking to add picnic tables and some playground equipment for very small children. "I am very pleased with the trees, their location and the price.  Also, because they are already a larger size, they will provide usable shade fairly soon," he said. The mayor and Greg Welty of public works selected the spots for the trees. 

Charles W. Bickenheuser, who moved from Washington to Plains two years ago and lives across the street from the park, volunteered to keep the newly planted trees watered over the next few weeks. He also committed to pay for one of the new trees, said Rowan. "I wanted to lead by example. We're all part of the community and we all need to do our part in the community, and I mean everybody," said Bickenheuser, who recently started a volunteer group called "Plains Pioneers," which is studying ways of improving the park. 

"Our young children, and their moms and dads and other family members, need a play area built for different age children with enough shade and tables for park picnics," said Bickenheuser, a Vietnam War Army veteran and a retired school teacher. His group has several ideas of how to improve E.L. Johnson Memorial Park without anything coming from residents' taxes. 

The Plains Pioneers' project calls for two or three oak trees to be planted there, ADA picnic tables, sail shades, a wheelchair accessible walking path surrounding the park, along with paths to picnic tables, and a splash pool to replace the kiddie pool. Bickenheuser said the kiddie pool requires a lifeguard, which is a cost to taxpayers, but a splash pool wouldn't because the water is only a half-inch deep. He said the kiddie pool could be reconfigured into a splash pool and be open all summer long.     

Bickenheuser would also like to see playground equipment for kids 2-5 years old. The present equipment is more for older children. "The kids deserve a really good play area and the younger kids deserve a play gym for their age, said Bickenheuser, who looked into costs and said new equipment would run $17,000-$25,000, but he feels if volunteers build it the cost would be only $2,000-$3,000.

He also came up with the idea of having a small building at the park that would house a screen and a remote connection to a telescope on Patrick's Knob for astronomy enthusiasts. He said the astronomy project would cost around $35,000, but Bickenheuser believes all of the improvements could be paid for through donations and grants.

Rowan agreed that the items Bickenheuser would like to see in the park would be good for the community, as long as they wouldn't be a burden on taxpayers. "I think most of the ideas that have been talked about are good ideas," said Rowan. "I prioritize the ones that are practical, affordable and have the best chance of being completed," he added.

Bickenheuser feels that as residents see the project coming together, more people will want to get involved. "We have a wonderful community with individuals and families willing to participate in projects that keep our town a family-friendly community for young and old," he said. "The park can be a welcoming activity area for all of our community, young and old. The park can be a place of good times and good memories."