(Posted April 22, 2016)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
Improvements continue at Jefferson Township’s community park, located on Taylor Blair Road, just off of U.S. Route 40 on the west side of West Jefferson.
The township trustees are constructing a path between the park’s parking lot on the south side of Little Darby Creek and the covered bridge that crosses the creek. To traverse that stretch, park users have been walking on Taylor Blair Road.
The 125-foot path will be a raised wood walkway, matching the existing walkway on the bridge. The trustees selected Paul Hostetler as the contractor for the project.
“The lumber is ordered. It’s just a matter of when it gets delivered and when (Hostetler) can work it into his schedule. It should be done this spring,” said Jeff Pfeil, trustee.
Last year, the trustees applied for a state Nature Works grant to fund the project. When the application was denied, they set aside $30,000 for the project in this year’s township budget.
Established in 2006, the park sits below Pleasant Cemetery and features a shelter house, asphalt walking path, and fishing access to Little Darby Creek.
The county built the covered bridge in 2012. The trustees expanded the park in 2014, purchasing six acres on the north side of the creek and installing a gravel pathway to the north side of the bridge.
“Eventually, we’d like to create a wildlife area with wildflowers and prairie grass,” Pfeil said.
On an ongoing basis, the trustees clear the riverbanks of tree limbs and other debris to maintain river access for park patrons.
“When the river floods, trees get stuck in that area. ‘Spring cleanup’ is a year-round thing down there,” Pfeil said.
The Jefferson Township trustees—Jon Forrest and Jeff Pfeil—meet at 7:30 p.m. every other Wednesday at Hampton Cemetery, 225 Cemetery Road, West Jefferson. The next meeting is April 27.
