A Walk in the Park (#19)

After being out-of-pocket and unable to enjoy my usual park walks, it was fun to see all the projects underway this week. Apparently, my absence did not slow down the work one bit!

I took a moment to catch up with Stephanie Peters, who was hard at work preparing a rock-covered creek bed to manage water flow during heavy rains. This project will serve a functional purpose and add another beautiful feature to the park.

Stephanie shared some exciting spring plans to enhance the park’s visual appeal. Five designated zones, each approximately 3000 square feet, are being prepared for native grasses to be planted in the spring. Two zones will be on the south side, and three will be on the west. Each zone will feature Big Bluestem, a warm-season grass that can grow up to about 8 feet tall, complemented by the cool-season June Grass, which will help support the Bluestem as it begins to droop in the fall. Towering sunflowers, which can reach heights of 12 feet, will add a stunning element to the gardens.  

Another exciting spring project will be the creation of an instructional garden area near the center front of the park. This area will include various grasses such as River Oats, Eastern Gammagrass, Notting Bull Rush, and Fowl Manna Grass among others – depending on what is easily available in the spring. Visitors will be able to stroll along mulched walking paths, with labels providing information about each grass and where else they can be found in the park.   

The Missouri Department of Conservation is assisting with planning these projects and will provide some of the plants. A spring workday is planned for anyone interested in helping with the planting efforts.