Brian Rowell Daily Press Joe Kaplan, chair of the Delta Soil Conservation District, talks about the houses for the rare Purple Martins in Ludington Park at a trail dedication Thursday at the park.

ESCANABA — A ceremony in Escanaba’s Ludington Park Thursday marked the latest effort to beautify the city. Recently, Enhance Escanaba along with many volunteers created the Ludington Park Nature Trail in the park. The group planted a combination of 250 trees, shrubs, perennials along the trail that encompasses the length of the park. 75 flowering, ornamental and shade tees were planted along the trai. In the future they will be be identified with tags and information.

Karen Moore, president of Enhance Escanaba, lead the ceremony. Also appearing were America in Bloom Executive Director Laura Kunkle, Grant Committee Chair America in Bloom Dr. Marvin Miller, and Jeffrey Price, Canadian National Railroad Manager of U.S. Public and Governmental Affairs.

America in Bloom funded the Ludington Park project. The group also funded Enhance Escanaba’s first project — the planting of 94 hydrangea trees and purchase of 36 cement plots for the downtown area.

“This trail was enhanced and created for interest, education, inspiration, beauty, recreation, relaxation, enjoyment and appreciation of nature,” Moore said.

The trail is also educational. Each area has a boulder with a QR code identifying each plant and some interesting facts about it.

“QR code information also introduces the trail at both trail heads with the history of our awesome, expansive park, Aronson Island, bird habitat planins and the Purple Martin house,” Moore said.

Joe Kaplan, chair of the Delta Soil Conservation District, also spoke about the houses for the rare Purple Martins in the park — a project he has been involved with.

Moore also thanked the city of Escanaba abd Bradfield Excavating for their help. The boulders were set by the Brayack family. The help of Boy Scout Aiden Snouwaert was also enlisted to do the tree identification signs and QR codes. It was his Eagle Scout project. Moore also commended Ludington Park foreman Adam Fix, who she described as “Invaluable.”