From the Parks Department:

In February City of Madison Forestry crews cleared a box elder grove along Wheeler Rd. [near Kennedy Rd.] as part of an oak woodland restoration project [in the south unit of the Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park]. This project actually was initiated about 5 years ago with a more limited clearing of trees that were hanging out into the road obstructing traffic. Volunteers then helped plant oak trees to replace the removed box elders.

The oak trees grew well reaching heights of 10 to 15 feet. Unfortunately the remaining box elders also grew taller overtopping the oaks and causing them to start to grow towards the road for light. Thus the need to remove the competing box elder trees. We also removed exotic understory shrubs honeysuckle and buckthorn.

The removals created a ½ acre clearing that will be restored with native shrubs and oak trees. On Saturday, April 21 we are inviting volunteers to assist in planting 350 native shrubs (10 different species) as part of our annual Earth Day Celebration. Additionally a contractor will plant 15 oak trees into this restoration area. In a few years the area will grow into a dense shrub thicket amongst a new oak grove. These trees and shrubs will provide both food and cover for a variety of wildlife species.