Knoll Park Project Update

Fairhope, Alabama

PARTIAL HEDGE INSTALLED

After hearing proposals from various Committee members, including city Horticulturist Fidler, the Knoll Park Restoration Committee decided to plant a limited hedge of holly plants on the northwest side of the park to provide some screening of the project for adjacent homeowners. Fidler had proposed a more extensive natural-looking hedge all the way around the property (click).

Some nearby homeowners had been complaining about the unkempt look of the property and Councilman Ford had worried about how it appeared to visitors to the city.

The city -- in conjunction with the Single Tax Corporation -- is attempting to restore the long leaf pine forrest habitat there.

MAYOR STILL WANTS MAINTENANCE PLAN

Mayor Kant told the Times his main concern is still a continuing maintenance plan, including controlled burns, for the property. Kant has said he gets complaints about the smoke every time the burns are conducted by the committee, to simulate natural conditions and stimulate native plant growth.


Comments

Anonymous said…
Does this seem ridiculous to anyone else but me?
emily said…
yes. This is absolutely ridiculous. This is too small of a habitat to house anything but squirrels and ticks. It looks awful and is embarrassing to look at. If they really want to make it a full blown habitat, bring in some rattlesnakes, deer in rut, black bears and wild turkeys. Then we'll talk.
Anonymous said…
why not buold a golf course there instead?
Anonymous said…
Can we put the Mayor's Statue Here?
......pleassssssssssssssssse
Anonymous said…
put the new playground there.
Anonymous said…
why not just maintain the park so it is NOT unsightly. putting a hedge around perimeter sounds unnecessary and btw, if the neighbors are complaining, why don't they go over there and do some yardwork on their own...
Anonymous said…
The point of a park of that type is to promote the type of habitat that used to be in the area before people moved in and started planting non-native species. "Cleaning up" or "doing yardwork" in Knoll Park would just make it look like any other generic lawn in town--which look fine, but that's not the point of this park. Maybe the city could work harder to educate the locals and visitors as to the park's intended function. Personally, I love Knoll Park the way it is and would hate to see it replaced or changed, even with hedges.
Anonymous said…
Yo ! : We have been living on Bayview, across from Knoll Park, since 1979 and have observed nothing but confusion and chaos. Stick with the present plan. The neighborhood is becoming nervous and restless again, wondering what sort of project the City will next develop : maybe a clear-cut followed by another clock boondoggle...statues...signs...light pollution...local art...stripes... etc . Leave alone the already stressed and tortured "park" , please .Richard and Judy Thompson