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Meet Our New Goats
Meet our new partners in the control of invasive species and undergrowth at Sandra Richardson park. The goats are owned by Mike Mourer of Twin Willow Ranch located near Milan, Michigan. Goats are a great natural source for controlling undergrowth in open land areas. These goats are a Boer breed that originated […]
Beautification Around Mary McCann Park Sign John Bulmer, a former York Township Trustee, and York Township Park Committee Alumni approached our park committee with an offer of a grant from Gleaners Life Insurance Company, headquartered in Adrian Michigan. Gleaners Life Insurance Company offers to it’s policy holders, such as John, a $250 grant to encourage […]
OAK OPENINGS SAVANNA
/0 Comments/in Nature /by Frank StukenborgA project has begun in York Township’s Sandra Richardson Park to create a facsimile of an Oak Openings, savanna as it may have existed several hundred years ago. Oak openings were and are a unique ecosystem of primarily oak trees and assorted flora, shrubs and grasses that existed only in topography and soils [till] deposited during the last glacial period which ended about 9,500 years ago. Old maps of the 1800’s show a large strip of land crossing Richardson Park as being a recognized historic oak opening or savanna. Very few undisturbed oak opening sites still exist in Michigan.
Richardson Park on Platt Rd. is located on the Defiance Glacial End Moraine. This marks the furthest advance of the last glacier, the Wisconsin Glacier, before its final melting and retreat. The deposited glacial till contributed to the formation of these unique oak savannas. Periodic natural fires controlled the growth and characteristics of the ecosystem before European settlement of the area making it ideal for Native American settlements. Subsequent human development and agriculture have consumed most all of these unique savannas in Michigan.
The original oak savanna in York Township was destroyed as the large “open grown” oak trees were cut down many years ago. True restoration cannot proceed without the presence of the large mature trees. A new generation of smaller oak trees are now in place and thriving.
The hoped for result will be a black oak and burr oak savanna with a tree canopy cover of about 15 to 20 percent of the area within the project area. As available, period native plants, flowers and grasses will be planted under the tree canopy. Restoration will take a number of years as the small trees mature in size. Invasive plants, unwanted trees and brambles will be managed through prescribed burns. The initial cutting has been completed with most of the oak trees remaining. Additional Burr oaks, a staple of an oak openings, are being planted.
The Oak Openings area will be located along the trail that runs north from the old Judd Road Bridge leading to the Willis Road entrance. Approximate size will be 15 acres.
Pictured below is the area.
Community volunteers are welcome to periodically help with restoration activities. Contact us through our web site at www.ytpr.org.
YORK TOWNSHIP PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE.
Sandra Richardson Park History
/0 Comments/in Nature /by Alexander ReynoldsIn 1985, York Township acquired from the State of Michigan, 118 acres of land that was part of the old State Hospital grounds with the idea of development into park land. Today, Sandra Richardson is a park with lots to offer from over 3 miles of trails through woods and meadow to playing fields for the game of soccer.
In 1995, Saline Area Soccer Association approached York Township for leasing part of the land for development into soccer fields. Today, there are three major soccer fields in use from early April to late October.
Sandra Richardson continues to evolve through the help of Grants, donations, Scouts, local organizations and volunteers. Currently there are plans in the works for returning part of the land to it’s native natural environment that will be known as “Oak Opening”. Oak Openings are areas of land that were abundant the early days of the Township history.