Native Trees To Be Planted Along Honey Creek Stream In Konkel Park

GREENFIELD, WI — Visitors to Konkel Park in the future will be seeing more trees alongside Honey Creek Stream thanks to a grant to plant several new native species in the area. The funding comes amid a wider plan to overhaul the stream in Greenfield.

The $5,000 grant toward the City of Greenfield comes from the American Transmission Company. The funds will help to plant a mix of Canadian Hemlock, Pagoda Dogwood, Sycamore, White Spruce and other species as part of the Honey Creek Stream Restoration project, the city announced in a news release Tuesday.

Several of the new trees will eventually be park of an interactive "Native Tree Walk" in the park, the release said. The benefits extend beyond nature walks, too.

“This is an exciting project that will reduce flooding, enhance plant and animal habitat,
improve air quality and enhance recreational opportunities for park users,” said Renee
Rollman, a City of Greenfield engineering specialist, in the release. “With this grant from ATC,
we will increase the diversity of our urban tree canopy, reduce storm water runoff and
enhance the natural beauty of Greenfield’s most visited park.”

The wider stream restoration project focuses on Konkel Park with work set to include widening the creek and building a new pond among several storm sewer overhalls, according to the city's project website.

Part of the project includes planting native vegetation, trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers into the main stream, surrounding wetlands and pond, the project site said. The improvements altogether are meant to provide food and shelter for birds and habitat for fish and amphibians.

The grant comes from ATC's Community Planting Program, which provides financial assistance to municipalities in the service's area to plant trees and other vegetation on public property. The program is in its 10th year.

Related:

City Project To Improve Honey Creek In Konkel Park Moves Ahead

Grant Could Help Bring Improvements To Honey Creek In Konkel Park