Ridgeway's Shagbark Trail

Shagbark Trail Earl Plato

Shagbark Trail Park in Ridgeway is a sizable piece of greenery. It needs help to develop it into a great nature setting. Guess what? The old Shagbark sign at the entrance has an added title. Routed recently into the wood sign it reads: STEWARDSHIP PROJECT OF THE BERT MILLER FORT ERIE NATURE CLUB .
For the hundreds of Niagarans each year who used to walk Marcy’s Woods, no, we still haven’t given up hope to ramble along those Carolinian Trails once again. The late Dr. George Marcy and his wife, Elizabeth, asked us, the Bert Miller Nature Club, to be stewards of their pristine property. That’s the truth. However, nature lovers must focus on other local natural sites and sights. Shagbark Trail continues to be enhanced by hard working members of the Bert Miller Nature Club. One Saturday, October 25th afrom morning into the afternoon they planted young, indigenous trees in hard to dig clay holes filled with good soil. They surrounded each tree with a ring of wood chips. My excuse - bad back.
I returned to Shagbark on October 30th with brother, Ed. With wheelbarrow and shovel he finished the job of ringing some twenty trees. I walked the gravel trails with sister-in-law, Rose Ann, while brother worked. Cyron Nurseries, who border the property on the north and east, have done a beautiful job of planting trees and shrubs on the entire length of the long berm separating the two properties. They supplied much equipment and time for our workday. Thank you Jan and Chris of Cyron. Thank you volunteers. Some of the Bert Miller Club organizers were Jim Willwerth, Rick Stockton, Rob Eberly, and Ray Willwerth. Thanks to Bob Chambers and his detailed plans for this ‘great-to-be’ nature park.
Shagbark Trail is named for the many Shagbark hickory trees found in the park. The parking lot is just north of Dominion Road off Burleigh Road. Look for the park sign near the gravel parking lot. Trails are not all connected yet but next year we hope final trails will be in place. Fort Erie nature sites are worth preserving for all of us not for just a few. The Town officials and their workers have been a great help. Enjoy Fort Erie’s Shagbark Trail in the years ahead. Look forward to 2009.