Designs on Lake Alice

FFHS students are lanscaping city treasure

By Trisha Marczak (Contact) | The Daily Journal

Published Friday, May 16, 2008

Fergus Falls High School students are making the grade by improving shoreline areas along Lake Alice. Dennis Wutzke’s Landscape and Design class is working in coordination with the Fergus Falls Parks and Recreation Department to create a buffer zone along a portion of the western side of the lake.

Students took to the lake, equipped with shovels and drill bits Thursday to plant native plants and shrubs in an effort to stop erosion and deter geese along the shoreline.

The elective course offers students a chance to apply knowledge in real-life settings. And as it turns out, it helps the city too.

“I heard that the landscape class was looking for projects, so Mr. Wutzke and myself took a look at it and thought it was a good idea,” said Parks and Recreation Manager Rick Terway.

Students undergo four and a half weeks of in-class training, followed by four and a half weeks of hands-on activities.

“It’s fun to work with your hands and get them dirty, to get into the job,” said sophomore Ashley Long, who is enrolled in this year’s course.

The 35 students are typically divided into small teams and are given specific tasks. According to Wutzke, the partnerships help students take ownership of the finished product.

“They do a good job and they have pride in it,” Wutzke said. “When they’re done, they will be proud of their row.”

This isn’t the first hands-on project for Wutzke’s class. They’ve just finished a seven-day project in Woodland Heights, where students gained experience planting perennials, raised flower beds and grass seed. Next week they’ll tackle a residential garden project.

Plants for the Lake Alice project were chosen by the Parks and Recreation Department and funded through the Extension.

The 10 by 30 foot plot is the first portion of the lake to undergo the transformation. Depending on its success, the Parks and Recreation Department hopes to continue the project in the Fall, and continue on to cover all open space along the lake.

Currently, the high school functions under a four period block schedule, which allows 88 minutes for each class. The switch next year to the seven period, 50 minute class schedule may mean students will miss out on hands-on activities. But Terway hopes that his department will be able to continue the project with the school, despite the changes.