After more than a decade of work to create a local park system connected through trails and walkways over the old Erie Canal, the ribbon was cut last weekend on the Butternut Creek Recreation and Nature Trail in DeWitt to celebrate the opening of the new wooden boardwalk.
The 0.7 mile paved pathway that connects Kinne Road to Wegmans parking area on Genesee Street — part of 67.5 acres of land in the nature area — is a popular path for walkers, bikers and joggers; it also now has a newly completed .25 mile wooden boardwalk that provides a loop through the forested uplands and hugs the edge of the wetland. On the north end of the board walk lays a newly created vernal pool that provides critical habitat for frogs and toads.
The new additions to the nature trail “complete Kim Ball’s vision that started over a decade ago,” said DeWitt Town Supervisor Ed Michalenko at the June 6 event before he, town board members and officials from DeWitt Rotary Club cut the ribbon officially dedicating the area.
Ball, the former director of the Town of DeWitt Parks and Recreation who passed away in 2009, helped begin the creation of the Butternut Creek Recreation and Nature Area.
“This is beautiful; we need more of this,” said DeWitt Town Board member and parks and recreation commissioner Jamie Frank.
In addition to the boardwalk and paved trail, the nature area also includes native gardens, benches donated by the DeWitt Rotary, a newly paved parking area on Kinne Road, and a stone dust trail and footbridge that provides a safe connection to the Old Erie Canal Historic State Park.
“This has been a great project for the DeWitt Rotary Club; we’re very proud to contribute in this way,” said club President MaryAnn Stark.
The DeWitt Rotary has been participating in the enhancement and upkeep of the area for the past deacde, and has committed more than $50,000 in support of the Butternut Creek project. Club members help maintain the trees and shrubs along the nature trail, and dedicate sponsored benches that exist through the park.
“Our club has been very active in this project for many years, and for many years to come,” Stark said. “We have a commitment to continue the beautification process.”
After the welcome ceremony and ribbon cutting, attendees of the event participated in a guided walk through the nature area, witnessed tree planting and pruning demonstrations and children participated in a scavenger hunt.
The enhancements to the Butternut Creek area have been made through a collaborative effort between the Town of DeWitt; DeWitt Rotary Club; Wegmans, National Grid; New York State Canal Corporation; The Edgewater Company, LLC; Community Bank; and other partners, according to town information.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Eagle Bulletin. He can be reached at [email protected].
