After our recent trash clean-up event at Donovan Park, I talked with Peoria Parks about future needs at this or other parks. This invasive species removal project was immediately provided as a recommendation, so we'll give it a go! We will abide by all local & state guidelines regarding COVID-19 and we should be able to support social distancing. If the group size becomes too large, I will work with the local reviewer for staggered attendance options and/or increasing the event's time frame.
Donovan Park used to be a golf course, managed by the Peoria Parks District. Several years ago the golf course was closed and this location was re-purposed as an excellent city park. The park is at the center of a vibrant part of town with excellent shops and restaurants nearby. Keller Station, located along the northeast edge of the park, is being developed with/for additional businesses.
The purpose of our CITO event will be to remove invasive/aggressive species (silver maples, honeysuckle, oriental bittersweet, black locust, etc.) in an area that was seeded into priarie years ago. An employee of the Peoria Parks District will be present to help direct our work. Since additional training is required in order to use power tools as a PPD volunteer, our team will wield hand tools such as loppers, hand pruners, and pruning saws to remove plants, bushes, and small trees. We'll cut these down flush with ground level (or as close as reasonably possible) and help dispose of them properly. Peoria Parks will provide the tools and will also treat the stumps chemically to prevent further spread of the invasive species. Since this event occurs on a Friday, PPD employees will be present to operate equipment / power tools and direct our work.
Please meet in the southwest corner of the Donovan Park parking lot at 8AM. If you have tools you'd like to use (your own loppers, hand saw, work/gardening gloves, etc.), please bring them along. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to post on the cache page or send me a message!