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Grissom's new nature trails add beauty, save money

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Douglas Hays
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  In an era of people looking for a win-win scenario, Grissom's civil engineers cultivated just the thing.

New nature trails have been recently cut into fields on base that were left to become natural habitat as part of an energy savings plan.

"We were looking for areas that we could refrain from mowing to save ground costs," said Cory Walters, 434th Civil Engineer Squadron biological scientist.

The area west of Bldgs. 663, 667 and 668, and an area just east of the Army Reserve Center were studied and deemed far enough away from the flightline to safely let the grass grow and create a natural prairie habitat.

Mowing crews diverted from mowing those areas earlier in the summer and nature took its course, with native grasses, flowers and plants taking root and growing.

"Grissom personnel are used to seeing a well-manicured area, and some may not care for the look," said David Hughes base civil engineer, "but this is a natural setting for Indiana."

To help highlight that natural habitat, Hughes devised a plan to mow a pathway that people could stroll along.

"You can see flowers, birds, butterflies and native bushes and trees," he said.

After coordinating with mowing crews, a rough pattern was drafted.

Upon looking at it, people started trying to figure out what it looked like - and idea was born.

The engineers tweaked the pathway, and the result was a squirrel-like pattern cut through grass on the north side of Hoosier Boulevard. Across the street from that on the south side, a similar path dubbed the 'nut' is carved out.

"The only ones that can tell it's a squirrel may be the aircrews," Walters joked, "but, it's there."

With the pattern designed, the team staked out the path for mowing crews to follow.

Elous Morgan, a mowing contractor, made several runs through the tall grass, lowering his mowing deck with each pass. The result is a manicured path about five feet wide.

"We're anxious to see how this area is received," Walters said. "It's a nice place to take a small walk during lunch, or a different path to jog for those wanting a diversion from the perimeter trail."

The engineers said they don't know how the project will be received and are open to enhancing the look with native trees and perhaps some boulders in the future.

The base fitness center has maps outlining the nature trails and access points to it for those interested.

Grissom is home to the 434th ARW, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as three Army Reserve units and a Marine Corps communication detachment.

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Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer