Last month, in my East Extra column, I introduced many of you to the new Hickory Bark Trail, a 400-foot long stroll through a stand of woods located along Van Ingen Drive by the Webster Public Library.
The trail’s completion was thank in large part to the efforts of former Webster resident Ann Krieger, and her husband Harold, who championed the cause after Ann’s death in 2009. Its official introduction to the community happened at a grand opening ceremony on October 5.
I recently was copied in on an email Harold sent to Jason Poole (from the Webster Public Library) and Shari Gnolek (from the Friends of Webster Tails), expressing his gratitude to all of the organizations who helped complete the trail, and hinting at more exciting developments in the trail’s future.
I’d like to pass that email along, verbatim.
Looking back at the grand opening of the Hickory Bark Woods Trail, my son Hal and I were overwhelmed by the many volunteer groups and local organizations that were involved in its development and completion. Please thank them all for us (the Friends of Webster Trails, the Webster Library employees and volunteers, the Webster Boy Scouts, the Webster Town Board and Recreation Department, and the interested local residents); they should be very proud of what they accomplished. I won’t attempt to mention names for fear of leaving someone out. It’s such a wonderful feeling to witness your local community working together to create a real asset for Webster’s future.
Speaking of the future, I must confess that some of us (no names) have been thinking out loud about adding some side foot trails branching off from the platform on the Hickory Bark Woods Trail.
Heading east toward the athletic fields, there’s a nice creek and small pond and wildflowers along the way. Heading north, not too far from the platform, I recall a nice area of ferns. Then heading southwest near Hard Road, as I remember from many, many years ago, there were nice hickory bark trees, some beech trees, and wildflowers. There is however a poison ivy problem to contend with. Details, details…J
Oh yes, don’t forget…wildflower seedlings were planted along the trail in September and we’re hoping for good results this spring. My hope? That Hickory Bark Woods Trail becomes the Wildflower Trail of Webster. Go to the Webster Library and learn all about it.
Do not underestimate the commitment Harold Krieger has for this project, as he continues his wife’s efforts to preserve the land as an educational resource.
Stay tuned!
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