Decorah Human Powered Trails and Decorah Parks & Recreation Team up to Plant 41 Trees

We cover Decorah because we love it. Show your love back — donate today. DECORAH — Decorah Human Powered Trails and Decorah Parks and Recreation teamed up to plant 41 trees at Carlson Park in honor of Earth Day. The group planted trees as part of an effort to restore the Northwest Zone, the area surrounding some of the park's newest trails. On Sunday, May 3, DHPT volunteers and community members joined Decorah Parks and Recreation staff at the Decorah Rotary Club Binzebo Trail Hub at Carlson Park to plant trees in the Northwest Zone. As the trail project nears completion, efforts are underway to restore the area surrounding the new trails. "Part of the restoration of the Northwest Zone is reseeding the trail, but part of it is planting trees so they can be part of the oak savanna," said Marc Holtey. "Oak trees offer a lot of different benefits, like anchoring soil, providing habitat, providing shade, as well as being aesthetically pleasing when they mature." Volunteers of all ages gathered to listen to instructions from the Parks and Recreation team before breaking into smaller groups to dig holes, plant trees, water them and secure protective tubes around them to keep deer away. Red oaks, white oaks and swamp oaks made up the 41 trees planted during the event. The event celebrated Earth Day, but the trees arrived later than planned, pushing planting day into May. "Planting trees will make the area look a little more natural, so you feel like you're in the woods or out in the wild," said Nick Pearch. "DHPT promotes and encourages the enhancement of the trail experience, so having a nice, native prairie here with an oak savanna planted throughout can help people, especially the people in Minowa Heights and throughout town, enjoy the woods." Decorah Human Powered Trails is a volunteer organization that builds, maintains, promotes and enhances trail experiences in Decorah. Stay connected and informed! Join the free newsletter for curated news, trending topics, and insider perspectives you won't find anywhere else.