Burns Planned To Curb Invasive Weeds In Des Moines Parks

DES MOINES, IA — Through next week, as weather cooperates, Des Moines parks officials plan to conduct a series of burns to kill off invasive weeds in city parks and recreation areas. Fires are expected to be conducted at more than a dozen sites throughout the city.

Prescribed burning uses a controlled application of fire as a natural management tool in the parks. It kills invasive plants, but allows the stronger roots of native plants to re-establish. In nature, fire is essential to maintain the integrity of the native prairie and woodland plant species.

While it helps reduce the undesirable plants, it also allows parks to maintain a rich diversity of wildflowers and grasses and encourages oak and other native trees to regenerate. Controlled burns also decreased teh accumulation of combustibles, which decreases the threat of wildfire, and it benefits water quality by aiding in the establishment of deep-rooted native plants.

Daily burn locations will be determined based on weather and wind conditions and the parks department will post burn notifications and maps of the areas on its Facebook page and Twitter account.

These locations are planned for prescribed burns sometime by Dec. 22:

Cemeteries: Elm Grove, 6501 Indianola Ave.; Glendale, 4909 University Ave.

Parks: Ashby Park, 3200 38th St.; Ewing Park, 5300 Indianola Road; Grandview Park, 3230 Easton Blvd.; Greenwood Park, 4500 Grand Ave.; Gray’s Lake Park, 2101 Fleur Drive; MacRae Park, 1021 Davis Ave.; McHenry Park, 1012 Oak Park Ave.; Pioneer Park, 1602 Pioneer Road; Sargent Park, 3530 E. Douglas Ave.; Union Park, 725 Thompson Ave.

Recreation areas: Greater Des Moines Softball Complex, 4980 N.E. 46th St.; James W. Cownie Baseball Park, 2501 S.E. 22nd St.; Waveland Golf Course, 4800 University Ave.

Trails: Meredith Trail pairie remnant, 1100 Thomas Beck Road.

The parks burn crew has been certified to conduct wild-land burns and park staff members have studied fire behavior and fire control techniques to ensure the safety of the burn crew, residents and private property.

For more information contact the City of Des Moines Parks and Recreation at 515-237-1386.

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