The Greene County Parks & Trails has closed Russ Nature Reserve, 2380 Kemp Road, indefinitely for the removal of ash trees fatally impacted by the Emerald Ash Borer as well as other dying trees within the park.
The work is expected to take approximately seven to 10 days.
Work crews and heavy equipment will be within the park during its closure — depending on weather conditions — removing the trees that pose a safety risk if not removed.
“Safety is the number one priority for our park agency,” GCP&T Chief Ranger/Director of Operations Chuck Frazier said in a release. “We want our park visitors to be safe and to enjoy their time with friends, families and neighbors when visiting our parks.”
Lumber from removed ash trees throughout Russ Nature Reserve is frequently recycled into creative play areas — such as a musical forest instrument — in the Lovely Nature PlayScape.
A tree nursery at the park has been established to replace the ash trees that must be removed throughout both the parks and trails managed by Greene County Parks & Trails.
For more information, call 937-562-6440 or email info@gcparkstrails.com.