Loud machinery and plumes of smoke may be heard and seen at some Windsor parks this week.
The city's parks and recreation department has begun seasonal maintenance work at some of its larger parks and conservation areas, such as Ojibway Park, Black Oak Heritage Park, and the Spring Garden Natural Area.
In a video produced by the city, naturalist and outreach coordinator Karen Cedar said prescribed burning will take up much of the maintenance work at those parks.
"Prescribed burning basically mimics nature's mechanisms for maintaining the open aspect of tallgrass prairie savanna," said Cedar. "It helps reduce the invasive shrubs that tend to pop up in these open habitats. It also returns the nutrients back to the soil so that the plants that are along the trails can get an earlier start on the growing season, and will end up resulting in much showier displays of wildflowers later in the season."
Herbicide will also be applied as necessary to cut stems and is not broadcast-sprayed. Signage is put out 24 hours before that work is completed, and is removed 24 hours afterwards.
Also, at Malden Park, restoration work continues with the next phase of sewer upgrades, but the city said the impact of the work on park users should be at a minimum.
Crews will begin restoring pathways that were upset by the sewer improvements. The majority of the work this week will take place along the trails lining the south end of the park, near the E.C. Row Expressway. A granular surface will be used on the paths until asphalt is available.
Complete information on the city's park maintenance can be found on its official website.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhuMFQw0Xls&t=2s[/embed]
