Native Grass, Noise Barriers Along Border
As a part of the Clear Path I-465 project, native grass seed has been planted along the road embankment between the park and the interstate. A nice upgrade from the honeysuckle and other invasives that frequently grew along the roadway. In addition, more than 400 feet of Ashlar Block sound barrier was installed along northeastern boundary of the park to reduce the noise from the interstate for homes north of the nature park.
Clear Path is an ambitious highway project that included lane additions along the border of Skiles Test Nature Park. The project intends to improve overall traffic operation by increasing capacity and reducing congestion. To comply with federally mandated regulations, Parsons, the engineering firm on the project, conducted a noise study in mid-July 2018 that measured decibel levels at various locations along the Skiles Test Trail that were 500 feet from the interstate. The reported decibel reading in the park was 59.2, with a weighted average of 57.9. Weighted decibel levels of 66 or greater warrant the consideration of a noise barrier.
Noise studies are concerned with the impact of traffic noise on areas of frequent human use. In 2018, the daily park use was much lower than it is today. (The noise study estimated daily use at 117 users.) Since that time, park usage has increased with the extension of the paved trail and the opening of a north entrance at 65th Street. In addition, the park’s trail system was expanded to include a trail that runs adjacent to the interstate along the east side of the park from the south entrance through the prairie, making more of the trail system affected by traffic noise.
In 2024, the Friends of Skiles Test Nature Park reached out to Parsons and asked if the barrier could be extended to cover the length of the prairie trail that ran adjacent to the interstate. At this time, the park did not have a woodland trail along the interstate, making noise an even bigger issue. Unfortunately, the noise study had been completed, and the interstate project was well underway.
