June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 25

ries. We knew this would not be
an easy sell to many park visitors
who would simply see us cutting
down trees that were obviously still
living. However, our plan was well
supported by previous monitoring
efforts using forestry metrics (like
stand density and a live crown ratio) that confirmed most trees were
well beyond the threshold of viability. In collaboration with university
researchers, we had monitored the
results of a smaller pine removal
project 14 years earlier, showing
overwhelmingly positive benefits
for pollinators, ground-nesting
birds and state-listed rare plants.
We vigorously communicated these
results in journal articles, public
lectures, online videos, newspaper
editorials and community open

houses, so when it came time to
implement our plan, we were ready.

Monitoring Our
Legacy Pines
During logging operations, we
maintained consistent messaging
and open communication with park
visitors, pausing work at regular intervals to offer tours of the impacted areas. We did not shy away from
the fact that the work was unsightly,
but we continuously reinforced that
based on the facts, the short-term
loss was worth the long-term gain.
Following completion of the work,
it was back to monitoring. We documented nearly 300 native plant
species emerging from pine clearings in the first year. Responding to
legitimate criticism from local nat-

uralists that we had not sufficiently documented use of the pines by
nesting birds prior to cutting, we
initiated a new study with university researchers to analyze breeding
bird use of the remaining pines to
inform future management. Today,
we continue to closely monitor the
health of our legacy pines. We celebrate them with park visitors as evidenced by the popular destination
known as " the Spot. " We collect
and analyze new data as it becomes
available, and we prepare for the
next round of planning. While the
adaptive management cycle never really ends, it leaves me with
the confidence that when action is
needed, we will be ready.
Tim Schetter, Ph.D., is Director of Natural Resources for
Metroparks Toledo (tim.schetter@metroparkstoledo.com).

Enjoy the Outdoors

TM

...with Pilot Rock Picnic Tables

* Rectangular, Square & Round.
* Portable & Stationary.
* Wheelchair Accessible, Standard & Kid Sizes.
* Lumber, Aluminum, Recycled Plastic
& Coated Steel. Choose Your Color.
* We offer a Table for Every Landscape,

Location & Budget.

RJ Thomas Mfg. Co., Inc. * Cherokee, Iowa * 800-762-5002 * customerservice@rjthomas.com * pilotrock.com

Benches * Picnic Tables * Trash Receptacles * Bear Resistant * Bike Racks * Custom Signs * Site Amenities * Charcoal Grills * Campfire Rings

	

PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N .O R G | J U N E 2 02 1 |

Parks & Recreation

25



http://www.pilotrock.com

June 2021 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2021 - Parks & Recreation

June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - Intro
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - Cover1
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - Cover2
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 1
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 2
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 3
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 4
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 5
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 6
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 7
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 8
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 9
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 10
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 11
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 12
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 13
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 14
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 15
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 16
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 17
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 18
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 19
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 20
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 21
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 22
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 23
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 24
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 25
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 26
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 27
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 28
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 29
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 30
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 31
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 32
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 33
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 34
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 35
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 36
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 37
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 38
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 39
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 40
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 41
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 42
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 43
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 44
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 45
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 46
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 47
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 48
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 49
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 50
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 51
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 52
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 53
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 54
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 55
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - 56
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - Cover3
June 2021 - Parks & Recreation - Cover4
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2021
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com