10 Spring 2021 Applegater
Pacifica trails offer
escape from COVID trials
BY PEG PRAG
2021 brings humble
thoughts for us to ponder
BY JANIS MOHR-TIPTON
Being thankful: For rain that is soaking
into our park’s soil, supporting all of the
root systems.
Looking forward: To the waning days
of the pandemic, so we can see more of
each other, and spring can bring all the
beautiful wildflowers’ colors and fragrances
to the park.
Very grateful: For park users who have
been thoughtful and courteous to the park
hosts, rangers, and staff who have been
working with reduced staff due to COVID
restrictions and have just as much work as
before the pandemic.
Being ever so grateful: For the wonderful
donors, volunteers, and supporters of
Cantrall Buckley throughout all of its
development, growth, and transitions
since it became a park 51 years ago.
Patience: So appreciated as we wait for
projects to be completed and new ones
to begin for enhancing, restoring, and
maintaining this 88-acre forest park.
With positivity in our hearts: Looking
forward toward the future with new
ideas and plans taking shape as we move
from virtual to on-the-ground work
again in 2021.
Remembering: That gratitude is an
important part of keeping our lives
healthy so we can take walks, picnic,
swim, and enjoy seeing others at our
community’s park.
Best of thoughts in 2021.
Janis Mohr-Tipton,
the Park Enhancement Team,
and A Greater Applegate (AGA)
Now: What are the park
plans for this year?
We have still been meeting virtually,
but are starting to assess what upkeep,
restoration, and development are possible
to address on the ground, working in small
groups of people (in interesting arrays of
color and design of masks as needed). This
is the summary of what is being planned:
• Small work groups (ten maximum)
throughout the spring for removing weeds
and invasive plants, amending the soil, and
mulching in landscaped beds along the
parking area of the lower area.
• A cleanup day in partnership with
SOLVE for Earth Day on April 17. Sign up
online at solveoregon.org (project location
is in Jacksonville) or contact Janis.
• Art projects. The artists for our two
art projects in the park (Cheryl D. Garcia
and Jeremy Criswell) are slowly moving
back into their work as their bodies are
healing from injuries. Still looking at
completion in 2021. And by then, we hope
to be able to gather to celebrate!
• Trail maintenance. Watch for the
date to participate in the Applegate Trails
Association’s trail maintenance work
in the park.
• Outdoor Education in the park.
Scheduling is now beginning for small
groups, spread throughout the park, to
do studies, art, and service work. This is a
partnership with the park team, AGA, and
the Applegate Partnership & Watershed
Council’s (APWC) Environmental and
Cultural Education Program.
• Riparian Restoration along the park
side of the Applegate River. This is a
partnership with Jackson County Parks
and APWC, with the park team and
AGA supporting the plan and providing
volunteer teams for some labor hours.
The invasive species that have overtaken
the young native trees and shrubs will
be removed, aging trees will be trimmed,
and new native species planted. This will
create a healthier zone, help to mitigate
the spread of fire, and develop better
food sources for animal and bird species.
There will be interpretative signage for
education and cultural awareness for all
ages. Steve Lambert, Jackson County
Parks Manager, said that after he had seen
the devastation on the greenway from the
Almeda Fire in September, he was happy
for this restoration in the park, especially
for educating the public on the importance
of having more fire-safe riparian zones for
both private and public areas.
• A Hiker-Biker site in the Cantrall
Buckley Campground. Community
donations can be specified for this project.
Fundraising will be ongoing. The project
will begin when the campground is closed
for the winter season.
We will list the dates and times for
each project that needs volunteer support
on the AGA weekly bulletin, Applegate
Connect, and the APWC website, as well
as provide flyers at multiple businesses
and public locations. If you would like to
be placed on a volunteer list to be called
as needed, you can contact Janis at janis.
agapark@gmail.com.
Janis Mohr-Tipton • 541-846-7501
janis.agapark@gmail.com
It’s spring, and everyone should be
outdoors enjoying it…unfortunately,
just not together. Hiking and walking,
however, are permitted, even encouraged,
at Pacifica.
So here’s the plan for “COVID-Trial
Trail-Trekkers.”
Pacifica, a 420-acre, education-based
nonprofit, is open (except during events)
and free to the public during daylight
hours for catch-and-release fishing, hiking,
dog-walking, horseback-riding, and
disc golf. There are six or seven miles of
trails. All, except one, are very easy and
pleasant walking.
The trails take you through woods and
oak meadows and by ponds, with great
views of the Siskiyous. The Nature Center
is working on interpretive activity stations
along the Camp Meeting Creek Trail that
explain the five different habitats you’re
walking through. Hopefully, by March
1 we’ll have a box at each trailhead kiosk
where you can pick up a map; a variety
of changing printed scavenger hunts and
activities for families; a self-guided, create-
your-own nature journal hike; and color
identification sheets (to be returned at the
trail-end kiosk) of flowers, birds and trees.
Every month there will be a new
themed hike, such as a Habitat Hike,
Scavenger Hunt, Learn Leaves, etc.
Anyone can play—families, kids, adults,
dogs—just not in groups other than
those you’re living with. Please remember,
if you should, by unlikely chance, meet
anyone, respect social distancing and
stay at least six feet away. You can pick up
the appropriate activity instructions from
the waterproof box at either trail head.
Please keep these papers; don’t return
them to the box. If, at the end of this
challenging time, you have at least three
hike papers, you’ll receive a COVID-Trial
Trail-Trekker Star (if you can say it three
times fast in a row!).
In March, a great wildflower show will
begin, and by April you might start to
see the migrating warblers. Pacifica is an
excellent bird-watching site because of its
different habitats. In April, also, the plants
in the large Fragrant Garden and Pollinator
Garden should begin to bloom. Be sure to
stop to enjoy them.
Clean hands, busy feet,
and happy hearts!
Peg Prag
peg@pacificagarden.org
Miles of trails at Pacifica are open to the public for free, socially distanced use.
Map by Ann Gunter.
