Current Release: April 28th, 2009 | Vol. XXX Iss. 10

Bartkus takes back the trails

BY Katie Morris

kemorris@vwc.edu

VWC grounds supervisor Kathy Bartkus has noticed a disturbing trend on the rise. She, along with many others, has noticed a climb in what she has termed  eco vandalism, which she describes as  the damage inflicted by vandals on turf areas, flower beds, shrubs and trees. According to Bartkus, this damage is inflicted primarily by off-road vehicle activity in the Arboretum and the trails in the wooded area that extends beyond it.

Vehicles have been driven recklessly through the area, knocking down trees and  tearing up turf. In the fall, Dr. Stephen Mansfield s tree was knocked over. The tree was a magnolia and planted when he retired in 2006. Another tree, a crepe myrtle, dedicated to Dr. Bill Jones after his death in 2007, was also lost.

In addition, several trails that were cleared by students, staff and faculty were damaged over the winter. In addition to the environmental damage and the cost of replacing the memorial trees, vehicles constantly get stuck in the mud and need assistance to be pulled out.

Bartkus has had enough, and she s doing something about it. She has made a proposal to the President s Environmental Issues Council for the installation of approximately 18 bollards at two trail heads, which will limit unauthorized vehicle access to the trails and arboretum.

 I was sick and tired of replacing trees in the arboretum dedicated to retired faculty that were getting torn out by people freewheeling back there, said Bartkus.

Bollards, vertical, pole like structures, will be placed in a row of three at each location, and the middle bollard will be removable  for emergency and maintenance access to the trails. Though some of the bollards will be removable, Bartkus hopes that the effort it will take to actually take down the bollard will dissuade any violators from committing vandalism.

According to Bartkus, the bollards are going to be  the main protective methods. However, Bartkus would also like some other deterrents in place as well.  Do Not Enter signs have also been put into place, and Barktus is encouraging more scrutiny of the area by security.

 Those would probably be the three primary deterrents, said Bartkus.

In addition to taking measures to protect the arboretum and the trails, Barkus is planning on enhancing and maintaining existing trails. She hopes that if the trails are enhanced and more people spend time in the arboretum, others might be less likely to commit vandalism. To this end, the Trail Club has been formed, to help not only with the installations of the bollards but also with clearing the walking trails.

 I think it would help security to have students and faculty out there, said Bartkus, who feels that having people out in the area will discourage vandalism.

 The timeline for the project is for me to order the bollards and have them on-site by mid-October, Bartkus said.  At that time, I ll work with Wayne Pollock s Rec 302 class on setting an installation date.

Bartkus will then announce the date to the Trail Club and the rest of campus to get as many volunteers as possible.

 It s rekindling a deep love that I have in my heart for trails, said Bartkus.  It s something that I ve been away from for far too long.