Back

The American Elm Park

From Kathleen Michels, 19 May 2004

Dear friends and neighbors,

We had questions from someone yesterday about American Elm Park at the corner of Ladd and Luttrell St. which we will try to answer quickly here. For more information please go to the UpperSligo CA web site: www.uppersligo.org (Stein Langlie has made it even better- check it out!) or the Friends of Sligo Creek web site: http://www.fosc.org . Please pass on to anyone you know who may have similar questions but is not on this listserve:

Q: Who does the Park belong to?
A: The Park is county property (an unused right of way in the Easecrest subdivision) and everything in it is county property including all the plants.

Q: Can anyone go into American Elm Park?
A: YES, the county encourages all to walk or sit in and enjoy the park,

Q: Can anyone, on their own, plant, build, remove or tamper with plants or structures in the park?
A: NO, Unless a person is specifically designated or given permission to do so by the county depts. responsible (Dept of Environmental Protection -Right of Way coordinator, Dept. of Permitting services ROW coordinator), they cannot plant, build, remove or tamper with plants or structures in the park. Such actions, particularly if destructive, are considered vandalism. Destruction of or tampering with county property is a crime.

Q: So who can work in the park planting, weeding or building, and how can I get involved and help?
A: ONLY County employees and those they designate. In the case of American Elm Park the county has designated Kathy Michels and Ed Murtagh as representatives for the volunteer organizations that have been helping them for many years with their projects in American Elm and Sligo Creek Parks (the Upper Sligo Civic Association, The Sligo Headwaters Civic Association and Friends of Sligo Creek). In addition the Izaak Walton League (Wild-Life Achievement Chapter) is a designated partner and responsible for the American Elm restoration project. If you would like to help and get involved please contact Kathy or Ed (call 301-922-3816) or call the phone number on the green Park sign (301-253-2384). Also call those numbers or the police if you see any suspicious activity.

Q: What is going on in the Park?
A: Several projects sponsored by the county with volunteer help are to deal with the fact that the Park was clear-cut in the 1990s and used as a construction dump. It also receives a huge amount of run-off from the properties above it and drains to Sligo Creek which is undergoing restoration. For more information check out the web sites above and also check out www.askdep.com.
  1. American Elm Restoration project- four disease-resistant Valley Forge American Elms have been planted by the IWLA with the County and are being monitored in the Park. They will both beautify the neighborhood as they grow
  2. Rain Garden Project: with funding from the Chesapeake Bay Trust the county has been helping to create "rain gardens" on public and private land throughout MoCo watersheds. The rain garden at American Elm Park will beautify as it grows in, will intercept the huge quantity of water that flows into it from above and will help to infiltrate it into the ground instead of all running off into the road and Sligo Creek. The Garden currently consists of two "cells" to intercept the run-off flow from above.
  3. other plantings: providing butterfly, bird and wildlife habitat and helps to absorb the extensive run-off not intercepted by the rain gardens.
  4. fence: A low, open bamboo fence with gaps is being erected by volunteers for the county to help delineate the Park and rain gardens.

Q: I'd like to know everything that is growing in the park.
A: One project is to label all the plants in the park for educational purposes. You can both help and learn at the same time! Please call the contact number above. Some small number of the plants are non-native weeds but to learn which ones are and help with removing or killing them only you must contact a representative above.
We hope this helps. Again here are contacts and information:
  • www.uppersligo.org, www.fosc.org
  • www.askdep.com
  • County American Elm Restoration project: 301-253-2384
  • Kathy or Ed (UpperSligo, SligoHeadwaters, Friends of Sligo Creek) call 301-922-3816