03-03-2022 Parks_Rec Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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"They put in native plants. It was amazing. The very first year, they had plants blooming," Gernes said. "There was a dramatic increase in the number of native pollinators." Crews will start work at City Hall this spring. The plan is to bring in goats to eat as much of the buckthorn as possible. "It's a showy and charismatic species to have conversations around: 'What are these goats doing and why are they doing it?' " Tucker said. The goats can also help with planting too, driving the seeds into the ground with their hooves. The nonprofit and city will work together to determine exactly what will be planted with an eye toward what the city can maintain long term. Plants used in other restorations include milkweed, butterfly weed, asters, bluestems and other native grasses. To the west, Great River Greening is helping Little Canada add native grasses and flowers along the Thunder Bay/Westwinds Trail, which meanders underneath some power lines. Xcel Energy removed dozens of tall trees along the trail including invasive buckthorn a few years ago to reduce the risk of wildfire. Residents were heartbroken to see the trees removed, but city leaders and residents now see an opportunity, said Bryce Shearen, Little Canada Parks & Recreation director. They are working with the nonprofit to restore 6 acres to pollinator-friendly habitat. Shearen and a crew, with the help of U.S. Fish & Wildlife, did some winter planting along the trail this week dropping seeds on the snow that should take root when the weather warms. Shearen said suburban residents are more and more interested in how they can better use corners of parks and even their own backyards. "People are more open to this kind of change. We can offer those nice turf areas for people to use at sporting complexes," Shearen said. "But when they get out to our trails system, they want to bring back those natural elements." Shannon.Prather@startribune.com 612-673-4804 ShannonMPrather Shannon Prather covers Ramsey County for the Star Tribune. Previously, she covered philanthropy and nonprofits. Prather has two decades of experience reporting for newspapers in Minnesota, California, Idaho, Wisconsin and North Dakota. She has covered a variety of topics including the legal system, law enforcement, education, municipal government and slice-of-life community news.