Retired UPS worker fulfils lifelong dream in Poland

POLAND

Ken Filicky always wanted to be a park ranger.

Instead, he worked for UPS for 37 years.

Since his retirement several years ago, however, he’s gotten a second chance to live his dream.

Since 2008, Filicky has spent countless hours – he estimates thousands each year – volunteering at Poland Township Park.

Now that spring is here, Filicky’s busy time is underway.

“I always wanted to work outdoors, so it’s kind of like a dream come true,” he said during an interview while walking the park’s nature trails. “I come out here and it’s like my garden.”

Over the years, he has added, or overseen the addition of, a bat station, bird-nesting boxes, a bluebird trail, a butterfly garden, a daffodil trail, a fern garden, new tree species, a hosta garden, improvements to nature trails, wildlife brush piles, wildlife food plots and wildlife feeding stations to the park.

He comes across as an expert, readily spouting details about the intricacies of each wildlife project. He touches knowledgeably on topics from the migration patterns of butterflies to diseases affecting tree species to threats to the survival of the bat population.

His partner in many of his endeavors is his son, Kyle. The two share a love of nature, Filicky said.

Read more about Filicky in Tuesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.