Pat O'Mahony unrolls a blueprint dated December 1912 that shows Frank Buhl's original vegetation layout of Buhl Farm park, Hermitage.

It's clear from the plan that there were many more trees then -- the park opened in 1914 -- than there are today.

The decline has been natural, said Michael Ristvey, chairman of the park's arboretum committee. Storms knock down a few trees, disease kills others and some have died of old age.

While trees have been planted over the years, there has never been a sustained effort to reforest the park.

"I don't know anything about trees," said Ristvey, who grew up near the park and proposed to his wife in it. "All I know is I want new trees here. We're trying to get it back into shape for its 100th anniversary."

The arboretum committee started its effort last year, focusing on the sled-riding hill. Trees were "sold" for $350 and buyers got a marker next to their tree.

"It really took off," O'Mahony said of last year's sale, which paid for 96 spruces, maples, oaks, pears and other species.

And while the interest was encouraging to officials, they realize the plan will take years to fulfill.

"We've sold trees faster than we thought, so it might not take 25 years," Ristvey said. "But it will take a long time to reforest the park. This is a long-range plan for future generations."

This year, officials are concentrating on three areas: the road between the gatehouse and Sharon Country Club and the areas around Shelter 3 and the performing arts center.

Plans drawn up by committee member Shannon McConnell, who has a degree in landscape architecture from Pennsylvania State University, call for planting 21 oak trees along the road, six red maples by Shelter 3 and eight pin oaks, 10 red maples and three shag bark hickory trees around the performing arts center.

Ms. McConnell said she has been using Buhl's plan as much as she can, but the blueprint with numbers next to the trees and the key to the numbers, showing what kind of tree they correspond to, has been lost. At least officials can tell where Buhl wanted heavy vegetation and sparse foliage, she said.

Park officials also are looking for corporate support to finance larger projects in the park: making pedestrian pathways of the old vehicle entrances that have been closed and revamping the island by the Buhl Boulevard entrance and Julia Buhl's garden.

Anyone interested in buying a tree can look at designs at the gatehouse off Forker Boulevard, and call Pat O'Mahony at (724) 981-5522. The park also is accepting donations for an arboretum maintenance fund. Send donations to Buhl Farm Trust, P.O. Box 709, 730 Forker Blvd., Sharon 1646.

You can email Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at jpinchot@sharonherald.com

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