Bees, trees and restrooms at Auburn Community Park were all discussed at the Auburn Township Trustees meeting April 1.
Bees, trees and restrooms at Auburn Community Park were all discussed at the Auburn Township Trustees meeting April 1.
Members of Girl Scout Troop 70822 and troop leader Dana Robertson talked about their goal of creating a bee-friendly flower garden in a location in the park distant from the pavilion and soccer fields.
Taking turns during the presentation, they explained bees need support because their habitat is endangered by pollution, climate change and droughts that result in fewer flowers.
After talking to a bee keeper and the owner of Auburn Point Greenhouse, they said they want to start the “garden of hope” with a mix of annual and perennial native flowers.
They proposed placing it on the south side of the woods in the field along the walking trail.
Trustees supported the plan, with one caveat.
Trustee P.J. Cavanagh urged them to plant the garden east of a row of stakes that delineate the active park from the passive park, formerly a hay field.
The park property is under a conservation agreement to allow the former hay field to grow up naturally, he said.
Planting anything in the acreage to the west of the stakes is forbidden, Cavanagh said, adding the agreement was reached so the township could use the northeast corner of the parcel for additional parking.
Trustees also discussed planting a row of trees just east of the line of stakes as requested by the conservancy.
Trustee Gene McCune said about 25 trees have been ordered from the Geauga County Soil and Water Conservation District, including American basswood, scarlet oak and sugar maple saplings.
They also discussed the need for permanent restrooms to replace the park’s port-a-potty.
“Sometimes, there are 100 people up there,” Cavanagh said, noting there is already an agricultural well at the park, but the water is not potable.
Mason Daugherty, of Auburn Bainbridge Excavating, who was sitting in the audience, said a traditional septic system with a tank and leach field will suffice for the few hours a year the restrooms will be used.
McCune said he researched the possibility of green restrooms like those at the Geauga Park District properties, but understands the restrooms have issues and would cost about $93,000.
