Just north of the tennis courts at Jennerjohn Park, you will find a storm water pond surrounded by a beautiful prairie. A grass walking trail runs through the prairie and around the pond. While it was only planted 5 years ago, the prairie is already well established and as the years pass, it will become even more impressive! It is a focal point within the park but also benefits the pond.
The prairie and aquatic plants are used to enhance both the beauty and functionality of the stormwater pond. There are two general categories of aquatic plants, shoreline plants which can be used to prevent erosion and provide wildlife habitat and submerged plants that are predominantly used to discourage the growth of undesirable species and algae. Both categories are very beneficial to the pond and are used to help assimilate nutrients.
A walking trail runs around the prairie and through the nearby woods, stretching just over a half mile long. At the start of the trail stands the newly dedicated Chip Garrow Memorial Arbor. While walking through the prairie you’ll see a wide variety of different insects along with birds and butterfly species. You might even see a few little critters! There are MANY different plants throughout the prairie, but some of the easier to recognize are the Blue Vervain, Purple Cone Flower, and Black Eyed Susans. A section on the trail also runs through the woods where you’ll find established boxelder, cottonwood and silver maple trees. There are some young sugar maple, swamp white oak, shagbark hickory and white pine planted near the entrances to these portions of the trail that were planted then the prairie was installed.
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