Growth and diversity are on track and meeting expectations.
Smolenski Park Prairie - One Year Later
Growth and diversity are on track and meeting expectations.
It’s hard to believe that it has been almost a year since 35 species of native plants were seeded into the fallow farmland within Smolenski Park in the Village of Mount Pleasant. We now have a first-year prairie with scattered blooms, small native plants, and yes, some unwanted non-natives. The black-eyed Susan’s, partridge pea, and a few hoary vervain started blooming a few weeks ago.
The prairie and trails come to life this year at Smolenski Park.
Root-Pike WIN is the owner’s representative overseeing the effort to restore the prairie for the Village of Mount Pleasant. Tallgrass Restoration has been contracted to restore and maintain the area, and they recently mowed the prairie to keep the non-native vegetation from reseeding the area. There is another planned mowing towards the end of August and one last time around the third week of September. The prairie is mowed higher than the walking path, which was also created to provide access to the area. A separate mower will cut the trail shorter soon, and a small patch of invasive thistles will be treated.
Smolenski Park is located at the headwaters of the North Branch of the Pike River.
The project will include five years of maintenance. 100% of the implementation funds and materials have been secured by Root-Pike WIN through grant programs from the Fund for Lake Michigan and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Restoring areas in and around Smolenski Park are recommended as “High Priority Green Infrastructure” in the EPA/DNR-approved Nine Key Element Pike River Watershed Restoration and referenced in the Village’s CORP plan.
Overall, we are excited at the progress that has been made at the prairie. Root-Pike WIN will continue to keep you updated as things progress in Smolenski Park.
