Intermittent trail closure for safety improvements

Published Dec. 12, 2014
By Staff
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Base personnel and visitors enjoying Tinker's Urban Greenway Trail system could find small portions of the trail intermittently closed from Dec. 15 through the first two weeks of January. To ensure trail user safety while tree masticating operations take place; bikers, runners and walkers could experience detours off trail.

Base officials continue to work towards gaining the upper hand on the invasive species taking over the habitat along portions of the trail. Cedar trees quickly invade unmowed areas of Tinker, becoming a fire hazard and negatively impacting the ecological balance by choking out native grasslands and the species that live there, according to John
Krupovage, 72nd Civil Engineering Directorate natural resources manager.

The contractor, Tejas Land Management, has made good progress masticating trees quickly across the base using a skid steer with a rotating, front attachment blade that chews through trees from the top down, leaving only a mulch bed.

Left uncontrolled, these invasive trees, combined with dry weather and high winds, could lead to catastrophic wildfires threatening lives and property on and off base.

These types of fires are a preventable burden on the military and local communities, so a small investment today will result in a huge pay off down the road, he said.

Safety