Tam O’Shanter Park Construction and Updates
Beginning in March 2023, Stark Parks crews will begin preparing areas at Tam O'Shanter Park for parking lot and driveway updates including removing and relocating trees and vegetation. Construction will be in several phases as funding is secured.
Parking Lots and Driveways
Parking lots are aging and the layout doesn’t serve park visitors and large events happening at the park well. A Clean Ohio site improvement grant will fund 75% of the cost to upgrade the entrance and parking with a better flow. Expect changes to current parking availability as well as changes to some of the temporary trail routes, especially the west or “blue” loop trail.
Tree Removal and Planting
The project will impact some existing trees along the new driveway route. The chosen route minimizes tree removal and keeps the grades less than 5% for ADA access. Small crab apples that have aged will be removed along with several larger hazard trees with safety concerns. Not all trees will be in the project area.
Since 2019, over 1,000 native trees have been planted in the park. Research suggests that one tree will sequester 22 lbs. of carbon annually for the first 20 years. While mature trees sequester a stable amount of carbon each year, saplings require an increasing amount as they grow. Over time, the trees planted in the park will sequester nearly half a million pounds of carbon each year. Thousands of maples have also begun to grow through natural secession.
Signs of Restoration
Over 30,000 wetland plants were planted through a The Clean Ohio Green Space Conservation Program in Summer 2022. These plants clean our local air and water and provide oxygen and filter groundwater. Wetlands are also a food, water, and habitat source for wildlife in addition to being another way to help sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. In fall 2022, migratory monarch butterflies were observed laying eggs on the swamp milkweed planted earlier that year.
Because of the increased quantity and quality of habitat for pollinators, the first threatened species of bumble bee, the golden northern bumble bee, was observed at the park in 2022.
Sightings have also included a muskrat and clutches of baby turtles in the wetland and baby killdeer running around the prairie.
Other Updates
An accessible restroom project connected to the exterior of the Clubhouse has been designed. The Outdoor Adventure Area mentioned in previous plans and concepts is no longer part of a long-term plan.
Discussions are underway with Canton Audubon Society for installation of a new Bluebird Trail through a grant.
