Posted on Jun 1, 2022
OKI Wanna Know: What's with the bricks in the trees, and the parking lot in the forest?
706
7
2
3
3
0
Monika Nunez asks: Why are there bricks inside multiple trees at Alms Park?
Dave Boutelle oversees the operations of 57 park properties for the Cincinnati Park Board. One of those is Alms Park. The 94-acre site boasts a commanding view of Lunken Airport, and the Ohio River.
"It is beautiful, (and) has a nice variety of trees, and some of the older ones are pretty majestic."
Alms Park's pavilion is a popular wedding site, and nearby there are two trees with concrete blocks in them. The bald cypress trees are about 100 years old. In that time, the trees have grown around the blocks, making it look like there's a wall separating this world from Narnia, or another dimension.
"Decades ago, it was common practice for people to fill cavities of tree trunks with this material thinking it was good for the tree and would help the tree last longer," Boutelle says.
Dave Boutelle oversees the operations of 57 park properties for the Cincinnati Park Board. One of those is Alms Park. The 94-acre site boasts a commanding view of Lunken Airport, and the Ohio River.
"It is beautiful, (and) has a nice variety of trees, and some of the older ones are pretty majestic."
Alms Park's pavilion is a popular wedding site, and nearby there are two trees with concrete blocks in them. The bald cypress trees are about 100 years old. In that time, the trees have grown around the blocks, making it look like there's a wall separating this world from Narnia, or another dimension.
"Decades ago, it was common practice for people to fill cavities of tree trunks with this material thinking it was good for the tree and would help the tree last longer," Boutelle says.
OKI Wanna Know: What's with the bricks in the trees, and the parking lot in the forest?
Posted from wvxu.orgPosted in these groups: 
Cincinnati
Outdoor Recreation
Cincinnati Outdoor Recreation
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 2
3
3
0
1
1
0
PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."The Living New Deal website reports on July 10, 1935, the first crew started work on Mt. Airy. Brechin says the building that's still on the site may have been barracks, a mess hall, an infirmary or a recreation hall.
"Those buildings are quite rare, because they weren't built very well. They had to be put up very quickly. But it looks like you've got one of the rare CCC buildings still intact in Mt. Airy park," he says.
Brechin says the Mt. Airy camp was home to a crew of about 20 Black men. They not only planted trees, but built roads, picnic shelters and public bathrooms. Brechin says there is an effort underway nationwide to recognize CCC workers with statues at the sites where they worked.
"They're very handsome statues. Unfortunately they all have Caucasian features. I think it would be wonderful if one would be put into Mt. Airy park with African American features so people would see what Blacks did, how they contributed to the parks we enjoy today."
Today, Mt. Airy Forest is Cincinnati's largest park, covering 1,459 acres. It's on the National Register of Historic Sites."
..."The Living New Deal website reports on July 10, 1935, the first crew started work on Mt. Airy. Brechin says the building that's still on the site may have been barracks, a mess hall, an infirmary or a recreation hall.
"Those buildings are quite rare, because they weren't built very well. They had to be put up very quickly. But it looks like you've got one of the rare CCC buildings still intact in Mt. Airy park," he says.
Brechin says the Mt. Airy camp was home to a crew of about 20 Black men. They not only planted trees, but built roads, picnic shelters and public bathrooms. Brechin says there is an effort underway nationwide to recognize CCC workers with statues at the sites where they worked.
"They're very handsome statues. Unfortunately they all have Caucasian features. I think it would be wonderful if one would be put into Mt. Airy park with African American features so people would see what Blacks did, how they contributed to the parks we enjoy today."
Today, Mt. Airy Forest is Cincinnati's largest park, covering 1,459 acres. It's on the National Register of Historic Sites."
(1)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google