A multiyear vegetation management project impacting 140 of Theodore Wirth Regional Park’s 740 acres begins in the southwest corner of the park September 2.
A contractor is primarily using a brush mower to remove overgrown patches of invasive plant species, mostly buckthorn, which will be chipped onsite. Mature canopy trees and existing areas containing native plantings of significant value have been identified, marked and are protected by a three-foot buffer. Park users are asked to leave pink ribbons and fencing used to mark these areas alone. In buffer areas invasive plant species will be removed by hand and with saws.
The Quaking Bog, Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden and volunteer stewardship area outside the garden are not affected by this project. In those areas invasive plant removal is done by hand, thanks to workers from Team Teenworks and dedicated volunteers from the Friends of Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden.
Starting September 2, workers will move north from the park’s southwest corner, staying west of Theodore Wirth Parkway (excluding the Quaking Bog and buffer area around the bog) up to Glenwood Avenue. Then they will head east along Glenwood, clearing buckthorn north/northeast of Eloise Butler before moving south on the east side of the wildflower garden and volunteer stewardship area around the garden to the southeast corner of Wirth Park. See the project aerial maps for more details.
Please note brush mowing is being performed during regular work hours (approximately 9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday).
After work in South Wirth is complete, the project shifts to Wirth’s Back 40 – the westernmost section of the park, west of the par 3 golf course, containing Luce Line trail, mountain biking trails and parts of Twin and Sweeney Lakes.
Brush mowing and chain sawing in the Back 40 is tentatively scheduled for late fall/early winter. Visit the project page to sign up for biweekly emails detailing the project’s progress through the park.
Funding for this project was provided from the Outdoor Heritage Fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature and recommended by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) to restore, protect, and enhance Minnesota’s wetlands, prairies, forests, and habitat for fish, game, and wildlife.
The Outdoor Heritage Fund is providing a total of $600,000. Matching funds will be provided through work by Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board staff, Green Team summer youth workers and Conservation Corps youth workers.
Please refer to the project FAQ and aerial maps for more information, and visit minneapolisparks.org/wirthrestoration to sign up for biweekly email updates.
Contact:
Andrea Weber
Project Manager
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
Phone: 612-230-6466
Email: aweber@minneapolisparks.org