A DPI Community Day project at Island Park was one of many reports at fall meetings of the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary Board.

A crew of 13 DPI employees recently helped three Wildlife Sanctuary board members trim trees and bushes overhanging the trails, pull invasive autumn olives, clean the paved access and spread bark and wood chips on trails. One big accomplishment was spreading wood chips on the lower, sometimes-muddy, trail along the Chisholm Street side of the island. Now there is a cleaner and improved walking trail. DPI provided truckloads of wood chips.

Mark Beins, coordinator of the Artist in Residence program, gave a wrap-up report on a successful residency. The painting of the artist chosen for display locally and in the proposed River Center was “Saw Whet Marsh.” Richard Jordan, the plein air painter, was interviewed by WBKB-TV and filmed as he presented the selected painting to Terry Gougeon, chair of the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary Board.

Because of onlookers’ interest, portable signs were suggested that could give information about plein air (outdoors) art and the painting in process. Signs could be placed near the working artist in the future.

Fencing and signs have been put up for the educational habitat restoration area. The large fenced-in area is beneath the O.B. Eustis Lookout on Island Park. It also serves as an erosion control site.

Two other topics discussed were:

1) Educational activities on Island Park, including a Besser fifth graders’ visit, and 2) Local police talking with the DNR about enforcing the No Wake law.