Public parks as habitat hideaways

There is too much lawn in our parks. We don’t need so much lawn. We need a little lawn for kids to play, picnics, and bocce ball. But we have way more lawn in parks then we use. We should have no unnecessary lawns in public spaces. We just need some well thought out and placed lawn areas and the rest can be natural area.

In the lawns that are currently in public spaces, we could reduce mowing. Grass does not need to be kept at golf course height in our parks. Tall grass and wild flowers are beautiful and just as good at providing open space for people to enjoy themselves. Less mowing also means less mower pollution, less maintenance time, and better habitat for wildlife.

Parks should have no chemical inputs like insecticides and herbicides. For our safety, these should not be used in public spaces. No spraying for mosquitos. It is ok for these spaces to be a little natural. And we expect these areas to be safe to play in. I wish we could ban chemicals in parks where kids and insects play.

Public spaces are meant to be spaces to bring the public together. Gardens, winding paths through woodlands, shady benches, and secluded picnic pavilions make a park an enjoyable place to meet friends. Large trees, flowers, and bird song help us feel relaxed and comfortable.

Let’s turn our parks into a place for life including wildlife and for us to feel alive. Less lawn and more life could be our slogan. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a little bit of nature so close to home.