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Morton Field Planting
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Morton Field Planting
On April 17, 1999, USC CLS members and friends
found a slow, steady rain awaiting them
as they prepared to plant hundreds of native trees and shrubs on the
slopes below the
Morton field complex. Although cold and muddy, the weather could not
have been better for
the plants and seed.
The idea for the project surfaced at the end of
last year when the township proposed a
road along the downhill side of the fields to provide access to new
lights, an
announcer’s booth, and dugouts. The new road exacerbated
already existing problems:
erosion of steep slopes, minimal buffers between high activity areas
and natural areas in
the park, and collection of water on the trail accessing the Mayview
side of the park. CLS
members noted the situation during walks of the park and saw the
opportunity to address
some of the problems and, at the same time, increase awareness within
the community of
water quality and exotic species issues.
CLS designed the planting to emphasize native
plants – those that grow naturally
in this part of western Pennsylvania. Native plants define, both
biologically and
culturally, the places that we live. They also have the advantage of
being adapted to the
climate and conditions within their natural geographic ranges. The tree
species planted
were red oak, sugar maple, hackberry, green ash, red bud, and red
maple. Shrubs included
arrow wood (viburnum), red-osier dogwood, silky dogwood, and spicebush.
The hope is that
these native trees and shrubs will help to screen noise and light, and
provide shade to
limit the growth of aggressive, often non-native plants, like garlic
mustard and poison
hemlock. The grass species planted – big blue stem, little
bluestem, switchgrass, and
indiangrass – will help to stabilize the soil and fill
material as the woody species
establish.
CLS worked closely with the township forester,
Walter Jarosh, who acquired seeds and
plants from the Allegheny County Conservation District, Ernst Seeds,
and Musser nursery.
The USC Lions Club, USC Athletic Association, Sky Ridge Home Owners
Association, USC Girl
Scouts, CLS members and many individuals contributed hours of labor
over several weeks to
the plantings. All told, the community planted over 700 plants and 70
pounds of
warm-season grass seed.
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