Newsletter Summer 2002

Friends of Beaman Park Receive Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation Grant

A $2,200 trail building grant for the year 2002 has been awarded to Friends of Beaman Park by the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation. The “Friends” plan to use the funds to purchase tools and supplies to continue important trail building activities at Beaman Park. Funding for this award was made possible through the generous support of Bill and Rita Bruce to honor the memory of Rita’s father, Neuland Glisson. The Friends of Beaman Park is one of ten organizations to receive this award in the Middle Tennessee area this year. The Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation is a two-year old nonprofit foundation dedicated to preserving the beauty of Tennessee. Although Beaman Park is not yet open to the public, the Friends of Beaman Park have completed construction on over two miles of hiking trail to facilitate the “First Saturday Hike” program. Volunteers are needed for trail building on the second Saturday of each month from October to April to continue this work. The Friends of Beaman Park offer our most gracious thanks to the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation for this award.

New FOBP summer program at the Bordeaux Branch Library

Ever wondered how kudzu and Japanese honeysuckle found their way into the forests of Middle Tennessee? Or how to pick the best plants for worry free landscaping? The Friends of Beaman Park have initiated a new invasive plant management and landscape restoration project for Beaman Park. This new program will deal with the problem of non-native pest plants in and around Beaman Park. To kick off the project, we have scheduled a series of summer programs (see program schedule) to provide adjacent landowners, FOBP members and park volunteers with vital information and materials to address this issue.

Sandy Bivens, Director of the Warner Park Nature Center, began our educational process in February by introducing us to the importance of native plants and the threat that exotic invasive plants pose to our environment. Also this past winter we began removal of the Japanese honeysuckle along the trail at the entrance to the park. The goals of this new program are two-fold: to remove exotic invasive plants from Beaman Park and to plant native plants to restore the landscape. But we can’t do this alone.

We need the help of adjacent landowners, FOBP members and park volunteers to get the job done. Please plan to attend these informative sessions to get involved. Exotic plant removal workdays will begin again at Beaman Park in the fall.

Beaman Park “First Saturday Hike” program continues

Escape the summer heat with a creek hike at Beaman Park. Explore Henry Hollow or Big Hollow with an aquatic biologist (or an aspiring one). Walk along the smooth limestone creek beds in water that is one inch to one foot deep. Get to know the aquatic life of the spring fed creeks at Beaman Park. Wear shoes you won’t mind getting wet. The “First Saturday Hikes” are scheduled for 9 a.m. in July, August and September (see program schedule). Volunteers needed for Fall Hike program Fall is when the hike schedule at Beaman Park really heats up.

Become a Friends of Beaman Park volunteer hike leader

Volunteer training is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, September 28, 2002. Vera Wolbretch from the Warner Park Nature Center will be our guest speaker for this training with a program called “How to Lead a Successful Hike.” The training will cover all the issues you need to know to be a hike leader at Beaman Park. Veteran and novice hike leaders are encouraged to attend. New volunteer hike leaders are always welcome. Call 299-9586 for registration.

Program Schedule

Saturday, July 6, 2002 9 a.m.
“First Saturday Hike” at Beaman Park.
Creek hike with Niki Conolly, amateur biologist and exotic plant removal coordinator.
Call 299-9586 for reservations

Tuesday July 16, 2002 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“What’s so great about Native Plants?”
Guest speaker: Mike Berkley, Growild wholesale native plant nursery.
Location: Bordeaux Branch Library 4000 Clarksville Pike
Call 299-9586 for information

Saturday, August 3, 2002 9 a.m.
“First Saturday Hike” at Beaman Park
Creek hike with a special guest.
Call 299-9586 for reservations

Wednesday August 14, 2002 5 p.m.
Greenways Commission Meeting
Metro Parks Conference Room
Call 862-8400 for information

Tuesday August 20, 2002 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
General Membership Meeting
Location: Bordeaux Branch Library 4000 Clarksville Pike
Call 299-9586 for information

Saturday, September 7, 2002 9 a.m.
“First Saturday Hike” at Beaman Park Creek hike with Jimmy Smith, aquatic biologist.
Call 299-9586 for reservations

Tuesday September 17, 2002 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“The Problem with Exotic Plants”
Guest speaker: LinnAnn Welch, Naturalist, Radnor Lake State Natural Area
Location: Bordeaux Branch Library 4000 Clarksville Pike
Call 299-9586 for information