No mow in Aurora

[gatormom]

Grass gets any deeper and the kids are going to need the force just to find those bridges to get to school.

[EagleDad]

Ah yes, bridge to nowhere, the finest type

[EagleDad]

Well, here's the official announcement:

Dear Fox Valley Park District Resident,

Thank you for your e-mail expressing your views on the Fox Valley Park District’s natural grasslands program. The District is committed to providing attractive, well maintained parks and open space for the enjoyment of all residents. We also seek opportunities to be good stewards of the environment by reducing the use of chemicals, fossil fuels and impacts to air quality when possible and feasible.

The District currently owns and maintains 2,500 acres of park and open space land throughout the 57square miles within our boundaries. About 140 acres throughout the District have been maintained as natural grasslands for many years. Currently, 98 acres are in the process of being converted to natural grasslands.

There are many benefits of a natural grasslands program to the environment, including; reducing storm water runoff by improving water absorption, reducing emission of green house gasses, improved air quality through plant transpiration, improved wildlife habitat, and reduction in use of chemicals. Once the natural area becomes established with a balance of native plant material, long-term costs may also be reduced. As part of a natural grassland conversion and management plan the district will continue to control weed species like dandelions and thistles.

We recognize and appreciate that there are differing views and opinions on this topic and some residents have raised concerns about our natural grasslands program. These differences include the loss of active recreation areas, perception regarding property values, additional wildlife and insects and the general appearance of the tall grasses.

In response to these concerns and in the spirit of cooperation the District is implementing the following changes effecting immediately:

1. The mowed buffer area between private property lines and the natural
grasslands will be doubled to 20 feet.

2. To accommodate informal sports and activities an area will be mowed and maintained at each site.

3. Due to its narrow width the gas pipeline will be mowed, maintained will not be part of the natural grassland conversion.

In efforts to provide more information regarding the natural grasslands program the District will host a public information meeting at Eola Community Center, 555 S. Eola Road, on Thursday, June 1st from 5 to 7 pm. You may drop in at any time to discuss this issue with district staff.

Sincerely,

Bill Donnell
Director of Park Operations & Natural Resources

Looks like a whole lotta "we don't give a damn what you think" to me. If I was a voter in the Fox Valley Park District, I'd start collecting information now on who can be removed from office and when to be held accountable for this. Donnell, for one should be held responsible.

They seem to have forgotten who they serve.

[wvhsparent]

I don't get that feeling from this letter....ED what about it gives you that impression?

[EagleDad]

It just seems to me like they are making a weak compromise at best.

Frankly, many of the arguments are over-stated. 98 acres are not going to make any statistically meaurable difference in are quality, the environment, global warming, etc. They're doing it ro save costs, plain and simple. Oh well, I bet Al Gore will be happy anyways.

[title1parent]

eagledad said:

Looks like a whole lotta "we don't give a d**n what you think" to me. If I was a voter in the Fox Valley Park District, I'd start collecting information now on who can be removed from office and when to be held accountable for this. Donnell, for one should be held responsible.

They seem to have forgotten who they serve.

Unfortunately, IIRC, the FVPD is part of Kane County. Let me know if I am right on this WVHS parent. It seems from what I heard at our neighborhood meeting, that our area has no voting rights regarding the FVPD, and someone also mentioned at the meeting that Donnell's position is appointed. Sounds like they like our tax money but don't care about how we feel on this issue.

BTW- the area that they mowed today looks like $#!%. Also, interesting note that was stated in the paper IIRC is that after the grass grows they were going to get rid of the weeds like dandelions and thistles with chemicals. That is REALLY BEING ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS. And they want it to be a natural habitat. Well, don't want the coyotes, opossum, raccoons coming into my backyard. Already have a neighborhood opossum making his presence known.

Since there is going to be a meeting on this on Thursday, I will have to sharpen my tines on my pitchfork.

[gatormom]

When you check out the areas that have been designated "natural grasslands" it is obvious there is a lack of concern for anything but the almightly buck. It seems our area has been hit pretty heavy, 27 acres in Georgetown and Gombert area alone were originally targeted with this no-mow policy. This is all residential, with Kentucky bluegrass carefully grown and mowed for the past at least 17 years (as long as I have lived here).

I see also the FVPD has decided to call them natural grasslands, as I am sure more than one resident explained the process required to become a true prairie.

They also want to increase wildlife habitat. The half acre or so across the street from me that is not being mowed is circled by homes. I along with my neighbors have no interest in seeing a proliferation of coyotes or any other animal that might call that area home.

As the FVPD adjusts its original policy, it is also obvious to me they are going to mow these areas an inch at a time until they find a threshold the neighbors will accept. Nope, not there yet, keep mowing.

[EagleDad]

gatormom said:

It seems our area has been hit pretty heavy, 27 acres in Georgetown and Gombert area alone were originally targeted with this no-mow policy.

I really fear that with all the mis-perceptions, and perceived differences in services in the area, this will only be taken negatively.

Let's see, WE gets a golf course in the middle, and Gombert/Georgetown get 3 foot high bluegrass/dandelions and a collection of coyotes/possums/skunks. Might have a nice assortment of old tires/radiators in there after a while too (jk).

Yeah, this is going to go over real good. Brilliant job Mr. Donnell.

Might we ask where you live Mr. Donnell? If it's such a great thing for the environment, how about you be the first to set an example, starting at home, with your own yard. (unless of course you leave anywhere near me).

[gatormom]

Fortunately we have two alderman working very hard on this, unfortunately they are working with the FVPD. I will be at the informational meeting on Thursday wearing a shirt that says "I live in a mosquito-infested, tic-laden, coyote-rich neighborhood, want to buy my house?"

Now every time they mow, things look worse. The area is starting to look like some weird patchwork quilt. Mow a strip here, quarter acre there, no leave the stuff near the road it makes the neighborhood attractive.

[title1parent]

If the FVPD doesnt mow soon, I am bringing in the livestock. Sheep and some goats should do the trick.

Heard that Harvey' s PD used some of their funds for personal vacations, home improvements and even college tuition. Hmmmmmmmmmm.

Maybe the mowing guys are going to Disney World.

Hey, ED, Did you get that FVPD information in the mail as a letter?

[EagleDad]

t1P, I got to info from Alderman Leroy Keith's website (http://www.9thward.net). I can't praise him enough for his continued work on this issue. He certainly has won my continued support, not only due to this, but all he has done for our community.

Alderman Keith has posted another update, with info on the FVPD, including the board contact info:

As indicated in a previous web site article, the Fox Valley Park District has stopped short of agreeing to cut all of the blue grass turf areas that were mowed last year and for the many previous years in the past. I was pleased to see that the Park District was willing to reconsider their initial decision but I don't personally feel that this compromise goes far enough. I can see them allowing the areas around their water retention ponds to become a naturalized area. The environmental benefits are many in those cases; however, to allow an open field that is planted in turf grasses to go to weeds and to become nothing more than a safe haven for rabbits, ticks and who knows what other nuisance wide life is wrong. These so called naturalized areas are scattered throughout the 8th and 9th Wards. Visitors to our area see these open fields and don't see naturalized areas, they see overgrown weeds and grass and wonder what the City of Aurora is doing to allow these areas to go uncut.

The Park District is an autonomous taxing body. Their Board of Directors are appointed, not elected. They will need to hear from you in order to understand your position on this matter. I have provided their E-mails addresses for you to drop them a short and friendly e-mail, asking them to reverse the decision of the Park District staff and continue to mow all open green spaces.

Linda Cole (President) [e-mail]
Christine Coakley [e-mail]
Theodia Gillespie [e-mail]
John McGary [e-mail]
Emily Pahlavan [e-mail]
Rose Smilgys [e-mail] (DuPage Representative)
Bill Thompson [e-mail]

The Park District personnel will be at the Eola Community Center on Thursday June 1st to discuss their decision to stop mowing the open green spaces. There is no specific start time for the meeting. Stop in anytime between 5:00 and 7:00 PM and let them know your thoughts.

I'm an up in the air as to whether I should petition the FVPD board. On the one hand, I do not pay taxes to FVPD, but on the other, as I live close by, I am affected.

[gatormom]

I think you should ED. Did you notice that one of the board members works for IPSD. I looked her up, Rose Smilgys is the LMC director at Builta. If anyone should understand the plight of Gombert and Georgetown, someone who is part of our school district should.

[EagleDad]

Just when I thought it looked like cr*p, I drive by tonight and see FVPD has mowed 2 foot high grass in a 20 foot border (only) in the area west of the tracks. Now there's a nice ring of dead grass (they didn't pick it up, and it looks like it didn't mulch at all) all over.

Jeez, this looks great. Mr Donnell, what are you going to next to top this loveliness off?!?

[gatormom]

Just got a pamphlet in the mail from the DuPage County Health Department about Asian bird flu, pandemic, and other viruses birds carry. According to them, we should observe wildlife from a distance. This should protect you from possible exposure to germs.

I think that means we shouldn't be creating wildlife habitats in our backyards!

Park District mowed more today, actually overmowed the hay they left. It looks awful, still.

[title1parent]

Funny, they keep coming out every day to mow a little more. How much is that costing?

I was reading up on my natural grasslands in my old college ecology text, didnt see any pictures of prairie in subdivisions.....more like out on the range with cattle and bison, near bluff areas.....didnt see homes nearby. In fact part of the description talked about grazing animals...

Tomorrow night, Gatormom and I are going to hand out signs at the front door that say MOW. Just like option 6 during the night of the sea of orange. Just hope they choose our OPTION !!!!