Happy Thanksgiving, Erosion Repair & The Beach is Back!
EROSION REPAIR PROJECT UNDERWAY
The FEPOA board is working with the WRV (Wildlands Restoration Volunteers) to continue reclamation of the bank on the upper part of the lower pond that was initiated in 2012. This work will add to the repair of erosion that has occurred over the years and aims to minimize further erosion. We have reenlisted the services of the WRV group that did the first bank reclamation work in 2012. The 2020 Project is taking an approach that applies a much lighter touch, using ropes and pulleys instead of more disruptive heavy equipment, to reverse bank erosion and prevent further issues. WRV will use this project as in-town training for volunteers who will be working in more mountainous conditions to repair wetlands and trails. Even though they are called the Wildlands Restoration “Volunteers", Fairway Estates is paying the group close to $8,000 to do the work, which includes materials. Although this is a fair amount of money it is competitive with the cost of other construction or erosion repair companies. This approach could be compared to doing orthoscopic knee surgery versus a total knee replacement. It is far less disruptive and the money goes towards a good cause; teaching volunteers technical skills supporting future Wildlands Restoration. In this way, Fairway Estates is paying it forward and supporting future Wildlands Restoration Volunteers projects. The project should wrap up before years end around Thanksgiving.
DEBUT OF THE NEW OPEN SPACE GARDEN & WILDFLOWERS
The new garden space came about from grant money that was awarded to Fairway Estates though the Fort Collins Neighborhood Services. The easy part was using the grant money to purchase naturally native drought resistant plants from Resource Central in Boulder. The extremely challenging part was building a home for the new plants. Thankfully, our neighborhood is home to some very talented people who came together to build this new garden space. A tremendous thank you to the following for their extraordinary help on this project: David and Karen Ramsay for keeping and watering the plants over the summer; Kevin Stockbridge who spent countless man-hours building the retaining wall and preparing the soil for planting; Sara Buchleiter and Laura Heermann Langford for finding free retaining wall blocks and pavers on Craigslist; Bernie Heavey for his bobcat expertise moving the boulders; Ernie and Cricket Brownfor their back breaking work in setting and seeding the boulders and thoughtful placement of the plants. An extra special thank you to some of the Friends of the Open Space who provided careful and thoughtful consideration to the optimal growing location of the wildflower and open space garden: Sharon Nordic, Jayne Hennen, Lee Kaplan, Terri and Wesley Martin, Joann Wilson, Cricket Brown and Jeanne Papenthien.
THE BEACH IS BACK
After many years, the beach is back! Sand was delivered at the south end of the neighborhood pond to recreate the old beach that had grown over. This beach is for use by Fairway Estates residents only. Soon we'll put the refurbished picnic table out so families can further enjoy this space. Many neighborhood kids have already enjoyed playing in the sand!
IS YOGI BEAR STILL ROAMING THE NEIGHBORHOOD?
There are still reports that Yogi is active at night and the early morning. One neighbor had their 5 year old pear trees that had finally produced fruit demolished by Yogi. Trash cans continue to be a source of food for Yogi so it's still recommended taking your trash out to the street on Friday mornings.
UPDATE ON HOMELESS ISSUES ON WEST SIDE
Neighbors on Palmer Drive and Fairway Lane report that the abandoned parked vehicles and homeless activity are currently under control. Thanks to the joint efforts of the Fort Collins Police and FE Neighborhood Watch neighbors for actively addressing the issue.