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Poland Township Park bursting with 8,000 daffodils
POLAND
As you walk under the forest canopy, the greens and grays of the woods are brightened by vibrant bursts of yellow.
Blooms line the winding pathways, some in neat lines and others in bright clusters.
In all, 8,000 daffodils color the Poland Township Park.
That’s thanks in large part to the efforts of volunteer Ken Filicky, who for the last nine or so years has dedicated countless hours to improving the park.
Last October, he and his family planted 2,000 additional daffodils in the park. He plans to continue adding more each year.
“Every year, we’re going to plan to plant [more] and make sure that in future years, within five or six years, we’ll have a great display,” Filicky said.
He and other contributors to the park – including Mike Heher, Republic Services division manager and member of the park board – have some other plans in the works for the park (located between Cowden, Moore and Miller roads), which officially opened in 2009 and has been evolving ever since.
“Our ultimate goal would be to someday have a nature center, a visitor center, to inform people what we have out here in nature,” Filicky said.
Later this year, park officials and volunteers hope that a new sled-riding hill will be ready for use. And, a high-school cross-country course located in the park is slated to be ready in time for this coming cross-country season, which begins in late summer and continues into the fall.
Additionally, improvements have been made to the park’s playground. Also, a wetlands area that Republic Services added to the park is now accessible, with plans for school children to begin coming out soon for educational field trips.
There are plans, too, to plant a spring wildflower garden. Nearby, there will be an informational kiosk explaining the park’s daffodil-planting program and other facts.
Filicky urged community members to come check out the daffodils while they are in bloom, which should last into May.
“Everything is blooming right on time and on schedule,” he said.
“Come out to enjoy nature. Get some fresh air. Exercise. And see the improvements we’ve made since last year.”