Goats, Sheep To Shear Brush In Downers Grove Park

DOWNERS GROVE, IL —The Downers Grove Park District (DGPD) will once again let sheep and goats roam on the Belmont Prairie Buffer to help naturally maintain the six-acre area's brush.

This marks the eleventh year for the initiative, which comes from a partnership between DGPD and Vegetation Solutions.

The goats and sheep can get their fill of the natural grass, weeds and brush along the six-acre stretch that abuts Walnut Avenue. Their daily diet includes a mouthwatering menu of buckthorn, Queen Anne's lace, honeysuckle and roses, per the park district.

An electric fence will be in place to prevent the sheep and goats from breaking loose and heading to Every Day's a Sundae or Tivoli Theatre for an afternoon adventure.

Residents are advised to keep themselves, kids and pets a safe distance from the fence. The sheep and goats will be hard at work through Aug. 21, but may retire earlier if they clean up the area faster.