Recently, Forest City opened up the 26th Ave. Park on Fulton and 26th. The park is not what was originally promised, however, it is a new place for kids to come play. Forest City also created a black top trail that runs parallel to 26th Ave. beginning at Fulton and continuing to Clinton St. This hastily made “trail” may have some bumps along the way, and parts of the trail have serious flooding issues after a rain, but what often gets missed among the uneven path, mud, and the weeds, is nature’s incredible beauty.
“I run that path almost daily,” said resident Brian Halsor. “I take the kids in the Bob Stroller and they love to see the hundreds of prairie dogs running around. ‘There’s one,’ ‘there’s another one,’ they shout as we run along the three-quarters of a mile path. It’s fun for them, I guess.” Others see even more beauty in the area. “Of course you see the tons of prairie dogs,” said Kaylynn Ball. “But, the smell of the weeds reminds me of playing in the corn fields when I was a kid growing up in Ithaca, and then most days, you get to see a handful of pigeons scavenging the ground.”
It wasn’t only residents that fell in love with the area. Forest City also realized the powerful beauty of the barren land between Fulton and Clinton which was previously slated to be a beautiful 25-acre park. “We have been thinking about this for a long time,” said Forest City Spokesperson Janelle Ayers. “In the end, we thought, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’” Ayers feels that residents appreciate the area for its natural beauty, or even better, they have forgotten or given up on the original promise. “Residents are so focused on other things right now,” said Ayers. “So, those that haven’t forgotten, don’t even care about the 26th Ave. Park anymore. And, then we have lots of folks who love seeing the wonderful prairie dogs.”
On August 16th, with little announcement or fanfare, Forest City opened the Prairie Dog & Pigeon Nature Preserve Trail. “The trail is less than a mile,” said Ayers. “However, you will definitely see prairie dogs. We hope the trail will be to prairie dogs what Estes Park is to elk.” The preserve will give the prairie dogs and pigeons on the trail protected status, meaning that they cannot be moved or hunted. The trail is open to the public, but donations can be made by going to www.prairedogpreserve.com.
]]>