The document discusses converting mowed lawn areas in parks to prairies, savannas, or wetlands as a cost-saving measure for park maintenance. It outlines the benefits, potential challenges, and a framework for implementation including site selection, public outreach, and management techniques. The goal is to enhance ecological value while addressing budget constraints faced by park services.

1. Applied Ecological Services, Inc.
Converting Some Select
Park Mowed Lawn Areas to
Prairie, Savannas or
Wetlands to Reduce
Maintenance costs
Sustainable Solutions for Over 30 Years

2. Troy Anderson
Director of Construction
Restoration Ecologist
• Over 15 years of experience in:
– Restoration
– Preservation
– Construction
• Employed at AES since 1999
• 1997 Graduate from the
University of Wisconsin
– Degree: Conservation
Biology

3. How important are our parks?

4. How many have faced budget cuts
• But…
– No drop off in service allowed
– Staffing freezes (or reduction in staff)
– No new equipment
– Maybe additional tasks?

5. The Goal / Intent Is To Save
Operation Maintenance
• We know that everyone is
looking for ways to make
their budget stretch.
• Things can be unpredictable
• The parks are under a lot of
pressure.
• Some extreme measures are
being considered.

6. Session I
• Cost savings potential
• Site Selection
• Public outreach / process
• Non monetary ecosystem value

7. Session II
– Equipment and tools of the trade
– Site preparation
– Seeding or planting
– Maintenance
– Using volunteers or recruiting a “citizen
champion”

8. Session I
• Cost savings potential
• Site Selection
• Public outreach / process
• Non monetary ecosystem value

9. Cost factored in
•Mowed park lawn per acre per year
•Labor, gas, turf repair, maintenance of equipment,
travel to park with truck and trailer…, some
overhead like building / garage and supervisor
salary, depreciation….
•Basic Prairie per acre per year
•Labor, gas, herbicide, maintenance of equipment,
travel to park with truck and trailer…, overhead,
permits, supervisor salary, depreciation, training .
and profit

10. Example cost comparison
•Based on
•Real restoration projects and real
feedback from park maintenance
professionals.
•Every project is different
•Scale, shape, type, region…

11. Low, Medium and High cost
ranges are influenced by…
•Type of natural area conversion
•Prairie
•Wet Prairie
•Savanna
•Diversity
•Plant plugs vs. seed
•Formal vs. Restoration
•Access to site
•Economy of scale

12. Break even

13. Break even

14. Break even

16. Session I
• Cost savings potential
• Site Selection
• Public outreach / process
• Non monetary ecosystem value

17. Where to start?
1. Adjacent to active use areas (not in them).
2. Areas that are notoriously difficult to maintain as
mowed turf
3. Along drainage ways and wet areas
4. On steep slopes and in areas with highly erodible soils
5. Locations where environmental buffers may be
desirable. For example, along streams, expansions of
existing forests
6. Areas where aesthetic buffers may be desirable.
7. Locations where park friends can “adopt areas”, such
as on park perimeters.
8. To avoid mower damage to trees and their roots.

18. •Focusing on park areas that may not be
actively used or can’t be used during
parts of the year because too wet, steep
hills…

19. Drainage ways

20. Steep slopes along water… safety
concerns?

21. Areas with multiple trees to mow around
Edina Public Works Park
Edina, MN

22. GET RID OF OBVIOUS PROBLEMS

23. •Should not conflict with active park
programming (baseball, picnic,
playgrounds…)

24. Session I
• Cost savings potential
• Site Selection
• Public outreach / process
• Non monetary ecosystem value

25. Possible Questions and
concerns from community
•Are you taking my park away?
•Increase of wildlife
•Trash in natural areas
•Do not like the “wild” look
•Type of maintenance like prescribed burning
and spot herbiciding.

26. Getting in front

27. EXAMPLES OF REAL EMAILS

28. EXAMPLES OF REAL EMAILS
Troy,
Thank you for getting back to me. Without knowing much detail about the project at this time, I
will have to assume some things.
If one of the ideas is to let the retention pond area grow up and become a swamp area, then I
am absolutely opposed. Forgive my frankness, but calling it an “ecosystem” or a “natural area”
doesn’t ease my mind, it would be a swamp. This brings more bugs and rodents to the area and
threatens the enjoyment of our backyards for everyone in the neighborhood. The smell would
also be a concern not to mention potential geese and animal droppings in the yards. This is
something that we feel very strongly about and would take our concerns to the entire
neighborhood as well as the developer of Stonecrest Estates.
Again, I am assuming that is what is being considered. We do appreciate the posted signs
because I did not see the article in the local newspaper.
We will be following the project very closely. If there are any public meetings scheduled yet for
the project I would like to attend.
Thanks again.

29. Environmental Awareness, Advocacy & Eco-Literacy

30. Show them successful projects where
the two uses can co-exist.

31. Show them the money!

32. Session I
• Cost savings potential
• Site Selection
• Public outreach / process
• Non monetary ecosystem value

33. Other Potential Costs Savings Not
Currently Included In Calculations
(Monetary And Non Monetary)
• Impacts on stormwater
utilities
• Stormwater infrastructure
• Clean air / water / erosion
control
• Safety (mowing steep slops or
wet areas)
• Maintenance done on E-ways
• Education
• Aesthetics

34. WORKSHOP I
•Identify total areas of turf in the park.
•Identify areas that would be appropriate to make the conversion
(You can draw on the trace paper).
•Calculate the number of acres (approximately) you will plan on
converting using the scale on the plan.
•Define a preliminary public outreach campaign.
•Determine the cost savings using the excel calculator provided
(my help).
•Develop your proposal to the Mayor or Council that includes the
reasons why you are making this conversion.

35. Session II
Equipment and tools of the trade
– Site preparation
– Seeding or planting
– Maintenance

36. Session II
Equipment and tools of the trade
– Site preparation
– Seeding or planting
– Maintenance

37. SITE PREP
Herbicide, tilling, burning…

38. Site Preparation
Herbicide Till
1st occurrence - 5/1 to 6/1 2nd occurrence - 6/15 to 7/15
3rd occurrence - 7/1 to 8/1 4th occurrence - 7/15 to 8/15
• Use a minimum two-week window between every occurrence,
alternating different occurrences.
• Use a site-appropriate, broad spectrum herbicide based on site
conditions (wet vs. dry)
• Check results, minimum 2 weeks, after each occurrence, all 4
occurrences may not be needed or additional occurrences may be
needed.
• 1st occurrences can start later in the year and start again in the
following spring.

39. Session II
Equipment and tools of the trade
– Site preparation
– Seeding or planting
– Maintenance

40. Seeding with Truax drill
Hand or cyclone seed also

41. HYDROSEEDING

42. Session II
Equipment and tools of the trade
– Site preparation
– Seeding or planting
– Maintenance

43. PLANTING

44. PLANTING
Existing natural area

45. PLANTING
Recent site herbicide site prep
Plant augers, dibble bars…

46. Session II
Equipment and tools of the trade
– Site preparation
– Seeding or planting
– Maintenance
• Mowing
• Spot herbiciding
• Prescribed burn

47. MOWING
Timing is critical

48. SPOT SPRAYING

49. Thistle

50. Reed canary - Wild Parsnip
Garlic mustard, ragweed, sweet
clover, Teasle, Spotted
Knapweed, Purpleloostrife…

51. Prescribed burning

52. WORKSHOP II
•Locate the areas you have already identified
in workshop 1.
•Identify the first steps you will take to
implement your plan.
•Define the specific ecological management
techniques you will use (along with their
frequency, timing, tools or equipment to be
used) starting with year 1 and ending in year
5.