On Juneteenth, Wednesday, June 19, seven Sierra Club Winding Waters Group volunteers gathered at 8:00 AM to celebrate National Pollinator Week. Their morning mulching mission was replenishing the 15 native plant beds along the Columbus AirPark Pollinator Path with donated mulch from the Columbus Recycling Center. They were able to complete the job before lunch, in part motivated by the 90 degree heat!
The Pollinator Path is a project of the Winding Waters Group that began in spring 2022 as a beautification effort along the People Trail in north Columbus. The trail connects Blackwell Park to the Columbus Community Garden with both trail ends featuring mass plantings of over 30 native flower and grass species.
The Pollinator Path serves as a recruitment tool for volunteers, an educational opportunity, and a much more attractive walking and biking path for many residents in Columbus. In September 2023, the trail was dedicated as an Indiana Sustainable Trail by the Indiana Wildlife Federation.
After two years of designing planting projects, the Winding Waters Group in 2024 is focused on maintaining the beautiful landscape they have created. If you are interested in joining in the volunteer effort, please visit the Winding Waters Group Sierra Club Facebook page or email Club Group Chair, Julie Lowe, at j_lowe66@yahoo.com.
You can learn more about the Pollinator Path at the Indiana Wildlife Federation website or by searching Columbus AirPark Pollinator Path on the All Trails app or website.
Eric Riddle, Secretary and Program Co-Chair for the Sierra Club Winding Waters Group