Work to begin on improvements to Poland Municipal Forest entrances


May 23, 2017 at 8:56p.m.

By JORDYN GRZELEWSKI

jgrzelewski@vindy.com

POLAND

Visitors to Poland Municipal Forest soon will see some changes to the woods’ main thoroughfares.

Work will begin in the coming weeks on a capital-improvements project that aims to spruce up the forest’s busiest entrances.

The bulk of the work will be funded by a $40,000 donation from the Poland Forest Foundation, which also is kicking off a fundraising campaign.

The project will focus on the forest’s two main entrances on College Lane and Indian Trail.

Some of the items included in the capital-improvements project are:

  • Cleaning and repointing the stone gates at the College Lane entrance.
  • Installation of new railroad ties in parking lots.
  • Laying new gravel in parking lots.
  • Installation of new fences and signs.
  • Installation of parking bumpers.
  • Cleaning up vegetation.
  • Landscaping.
  • Repair and replacement of fencing near the Zedaker Pavilion.
  • Improvements to the Zedaker Pavilion, including a new chimney and grilling area, and repairs to the structure and its seating.
  • Moving the College Lane entrance’s information kiosk.
  • Relocation of signs to make them more visible.

“Our two entrances and Zedaker Pavilion are the main ingress-egress points for the bulk of forest” visitors, said forest board member Mark Thompson. “The idea is, when you pull into our parking lots, it should be presentable and represent the Poland forest.”

Management of the forest has been a contentious community issue over the last few years, with some wanting to spruce up what they see as a neglected area and others arguing that the forest should be left in its natural state.

“Anything we do here, we want it to look very natural and respectful to the location,” said foundation President Charles Rumberg said. “We’re not trying to make it look like Disney World. We just want it to look as pretty as possible.”

The project is slated to take place this summer. Some of the work will be contracted out, and other components will be done by volunteers.