St. Joseph park board, public discuss Prairie Project

by Cady Sehnert

news@thenewsleaders.com

On July 27, the St. Joseph Park Board members invited residents to join them in a discussion regarding the Prairie Restoration Project. The meeting was held at Klinefelter Park, the site where the project would take place. Steve Heymans, owner of Steve’s Landscape Services, headed the discussion. He outlined foreseeable problems, potential solutions, cost, benefits and the actual process of the restoration itself.

“People are more and more interested in this. It’s low maintenance and good for wildlife,” Heymans said during the gathering. “There’s a lot of pluses to doing this.”

While there are many positive outcomes to this project, Heymans also discussed possible problems that might arise during the course of the restoration. Currently, the prairie consists of aggressive, long grasses that originated from European seeds planted decades ago, making the current vegetation more difficult to eradicate. However, Heymans carefully outlined a plan that would rid the prairie of these destructive grasses. They are as follows:

• First, the grasses would need to be burned this fall.
• In the spring, the green shoot-ups that were not destroyed the previous year would be sprayed with Round-up, an herbicide that is neutralized by water and does not cause any harm to surrounding wildlife.
• Next, in order to completely rid the soil of the old seeds, the ground would be drilled rather than tilled as to not upset the dirt.
• Beginning in mid-June of 2016, new seeds would be planted and packed.
• The prairie would be mowed continuously in order to allow the native seeds to grow through the old ones.

“This project is going to take some patience,” Heymans said.

Being a professional landscaper, Heymans reminded the group the restoration would take a few years before any noticeable results could be seen. He suggested when the native seeds had blossomed, walking paths and a possible gazebo could be added.

“We want people welcomed into it,” Heymans said.

Additionally, the restoration would increase both insect and bird life.

After outlining the project, Heymans opened the floor to the audience for questions, comments or concerns. Several residents asked about the cost and funding for the project. With help from board member Matt Killam, Heymans said while there could be possible grants, the project would need council approval, at which point it would be budgeted and paid for by the park board itself. One resident raised a particular concern in regard to the initial step of burning the grasses. Heymans reassured the inquirer the burning would not impact any surrounding wildlife, such as trees, bushes or other plants outside the prairie.

For more information regarding this project, visit Heymans’ landscaping website at steveslandserve.com.