A ribbon cutting for a new Pollinator Path in Blackwell Park hosted by the Sierra Club Winding Waters Group is planned at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 15 at the park, 1550 Whitney Court, in Columbus.
The Sierra Club Winding Waters Group has nurtured a special team of volunteers that care about the decline of pollinator insects and other wildlife in our ecosystem. In 2018, they formed a Pollinator Protector Team and since then have offered an annual native plant sale and have donated and installed native plant beds in our community.
Last year, Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority helped our group to raise funds for a new Pollinator Path with donors from our community and a matching grant for a total of $15,000. Over the past two years, native plant beds have been designed and installed by the Pollinator Protector Team and many organizations and city and county partners from our community have contributed to the creation of the Columbus AirPark Pollinator Path on the People Trail.
The ribbon cutting will include allowing those attending to continue on the path to enjoy the new native beds continuing to the Propeller Makerspace in the Columbus AirPark.
A guided tour will be given by the designer of the new native plant beds and Sierra Club Outings Leaders. Following the walk, a reception with food and drinks will be held at the Propeller Makerspace.
The Indiana Wildlife Federation has designated the Pollinator Path as a sustainable trail, meaning this urban trail adds value to the ecosystem because it offers support to insects and wildlife by providing food, water and shelter as well as host plants for the life cycles of insects that need native plants to survive.
The event and the 1.5 mile walk will take at least an hour not including the reception to follow. A shuttle will be available to transport walkers who would like a ride back to the Blackwell Park location.
A reception is planned at 7 p.m. to celebrate the newly established native habitat and the beautiful summer blooms and enjoy local pizza provided by the Winding Waters Group. A beer truck is being arranged.
The group is asking that individuals register for planning for the catering and shuttle service. For questions and details please contact Eric Riddle, Eric.r.riddle@gmail.com
To RSVP, visit https://act.sierraclub.org/events/details?formcampaignid=7013q000001rQkqAAE&mapLinkHref=https://maps.google.com/maps&daddr=Pollinator%20Path%20Ribbon%20Cutting,%20Walk%20and%.
