By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Great Bend Public Lands Director Scott Keeler started his department update at the Great Bend City Council meeting last week by saying spring has arrived and his crew is switching to different chores.
Great Bend staff has already transplanted 67 trees from the city’s nursery to be planted throughout town. Keeler said the new trees and ongoing landscaping maintenance is needed to keep recovering from a storm last summer.
"Pruning stuff from the storm is still going on," said Keeler. "We're right in the middle of spring cleanup. We're trying to get all the irrigated turf ready and get the irrigation systems turned on and tested. We have started fertilizing and spraying for weeds."
Two weeks ago, during most local school’s spring break, Keeler said the Great Bend Brit Spaugh Zoo averaged between 300 and 500 visitors per day. So far this year, the free zoo has seen more than 6,700 visitors.