The sculptures will be used on a story trail in the Children’s Forest area of the park.

“We are putting in a story trail,” said Matt Cosgrove, director of Webster County Conservation. “There will be a loop trail in the Children’s Forest.”

Cosgrove said there will be 15 stations where families can stop and read part of a story. Those stories will have the option of being changed out seasonally, he said.

One story, in particular, that will be on display is “The Lorax,” a children’s book authored by Dr. Seuss. It was first published in 1971. The sculptures will be in place to enhance the storytelling.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Gary Keenan, a chainsaw sculptor from Des Moines, poses with one of his recently finished creations — a Humming Fish from the children’s book ”The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss — at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park on Saturday. Keenan is sculpting six figures from the book that will be part of a story trail in the Children’s Forest area of the park.

Gary Keenan, a chainsaw sculptor from Des Moines, is creating six characters from the book out of ash trees. More and more ash trees are in danger due to emerald ash borer, an invasive insect that feeds under the bark of ash trees. It disrupts the transport of nutrients and water throughout the tree, which ultimately kill it. As a result, many ash trees in Webster County are being removed.

Rather than dispose of the stumps, Erin Ford, a naturalist with Webster County Conservation, thought it would be a neat use of the wood to have them made into sculptures. So Ford connected with Keenan about the story trail project, which is funded by the Webster County Friends of Conservation Board. The cost of the sculptures will be about $4,200.

Keenan, a former locksmith, has been at his craft for 20 years.

“All my life, I’ve had an appreciation for art,” he said. “Especially sculptures.”

One year, a friend of his saw a chainsaw artist at the Iowa State Fair.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
The Lorax character from the Dr. Seuss children’s book is nearly finished at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park. It will be part of a story trail in the Children’s Forest area of the park.

“I thought it was something I could do,” Keenan recalled. “My friends laughed at me.”

So Keenan decided to give it a whirl. His first creation was a fish.

“It was crude,” he said. “But it took off from there.”

Keenan said eagles and bears are two of the most common animals he has sculpted.

Keenan grew up on a farm near Grinnell. He said he’s always enjoyed working in the outdoors.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
A sculpture of a Humming Fish character from the children’s book “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss is displayed at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park. It will be part of a story trail in the Children’s Forest area of the park.

“I prefer to work outdoors,” he said. “I was not meant to sit behind a desk. I like to be creative and work with my hands.”

On Saturday, Keenan was in the process of carving the Truffla Tree character. The carving stands about 9 feet tall.

“That will take more than a day,” he said.

After carving and sanding the wood just right, Keenan adds an oil-based colorant with a varnish that helps protect against weathering.

“The Lorax” story is one that is very relevant in today’s world, Keenan said. Its message is partly about conserving our natural resources.

-Messenger photo by Chad Thompson
Gary Keenan, a chainsaw sculptor from Des Moines, works on the Truffula Tree character from the children’s book, “The Lorax” by Dr. Seuss, Saturday at John F. Kennedy Memorial Park. It is one of six figures Keenan is sculpting for an eventual story trail to be located in the Children’s Forest area of the park.

“It was way ahead of its time,” Keenan said. “It’s more important than ever.”

He said he doesn’t like to see trees get taken down unnecessarily.

“I never wish for a tree to die or go down,” he said. “But if it does, hopefully a piece of art is left behind.”

Keenan said he will be done carving sometime this week. The story trail attraction is anticipated to be ready for summer of 2021.