MILE-LONG HIKING TRAIL TO BE PAVE THROUGH ARBORETUM

A serpentine path being paved across a field in the north Cape Girardeau County Park will eventually meander through an arboretum with up to 100 different species of trees.

The project is a cooperative venture of Cape Girardeau County and the Missouri Conservation Department. The county is furnishing material for the trail. The conservation department is providing the labor.

Bruce Watkins, superintendent of Cape Girardeau County parks, said the one-mile hiking path serves several purposes.

Primarily, it is a key part of the park's arboretum, a place where trees and shrubs are grown for exhibition.

Specific plans for the arboretum are still in the works. Watkins said 75 to 100 different species of trees will be planted. Each will be labeled, and the path will meander through the trees. Existing trees will remain. In all, up to 200 new trees will be planted.

"It should be very educational," Watkins said. "We expect school children will come out here to walk through the trees and learn about the different species."

Park benches, shrubs and other plants will be added to enhance the arboretum.

The new path also provides a safe alternative to walkers who currently use the road around the park for exercise.

"We have a large number of people who are walking for exercise out here, and this trail will be safer for them." Watkins said.

If the weather cooperates, the trail should be asphalted later this week. It should be open to the public within two weeks.

The majority of trees will be planted this fall, at a time appropriate for planting trees. Watkins said the trees will be balled and burlap covered trees, not seedlings.

"This is something the county will be very proud of," Watkins said.

The county maintains two other trails. In the north park, a 3/4-mile trail is designated as moderately strenuous. In the south park Park, a new 1/4-mile wheelchair accessible trail is open.