The environmental stewardship and conservation page provides information to our residents and park patrons regarding park maintenance policies, procedures and practices and lets residents know how they can help the Naperville Park District parks department manage its natural resources.
The Naperville Park District has been entrusted with managing and maintaining our parks for present day use and for future generations.
Management activities are focused on enhancing and maintaining the environmental quality of aquatic areas for storm water control. Activities include: litter/debris control, erosion control, management of shoreline and aquatic vegetation, pest control, enforcement of public safety guidelines, and maintenance of the water in a free-flowing condition. In instances where public and private lands adjoin waterways managed by the Naperville Park District, riparian rights will be observed with the Park District maintaining to the property centerline of such areas. Activities include all labor, materials, supplies, and services to maintain the environmental quality of aquatic areas.
A minimum of a 10-foot, no-mow buffer natural area that is mowed or burned annually. Shoreline will be made up of no more than 30% trees. Shoreline will contain no more than 25% cattails.
Evaluated on a yearly basis.
Debris removal along the shoreline and above/below normal water levels will be done monthly April-October. Debris that impedes free-flowing water will be removed as soon as it is observed.
Algae levels will be monitored periodically. If it is determined that control is necessary, it will be managed by chemical means.
Prairie areas consist of park land that has been designed for restoration or has been planted in prairie plants. These areas will be perscribeda controlled burn to rid the area of unwanted vegetation, especially wood species. If weather conditions prohibit a controlled burn, the area will be mowed in April to a height of 6 inches. This will help keep the brush from forming thickets. Seeding is done on a limited basis using a low grow seed mix of mainly native plants.
The mix will consist of some non-native, short lived annuals like Plains Coreopsis, Bachelor Buttons for color.
Controlled burns are a management tool used to maintain natural areas.
It is recommended burns be conducted every other year. Areas staff cannot burn will be mowed annually in the spring to a height of 6 inches.
For more information on the 2013 controlled burns, click here
Arboriculture / Tree Maintenance
Activities include corrective pruning, thinning, shaping, staking and guying, mulching, and fertilizing.
Tree pruning is performed according to accepted arboricultural practices and standards to provide and encourage a natural healthy growth for each tree variety. High use and trafficked parks are visited every 5-7 years. Maintenance activities include pruning and removing dead wood, suckers, water-sprouts, cross-branching, and low hanging branches. Corrective pruning such as thinning the crown for increased air movement and shaping are done as needed.
The bases of the trees are mulched in a 4 foot diameter ring, 3.5 inches thick at the outside of the mulch bed and 1-1/2" maximum next to the tree trunk, with recycled wood chips that are available through NPD chipping or donations. Larger rings or mulched grouping are constructed to reduce trim mowing activities and increase health of the individual trees as needed. All tree rings and beds have a depressed edge no deeper than 3 inches surrounding the tree.
Gypsy Moth Control
In cooperation with the City of Naperville and Illinois Department of Agriculture, the Park District is a vested partner in the monitoring and eradication of this tree pest. For more information contact http://www.extension.uiuc.edu
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB
) In cooperation with the City of Naperville, the Park District is monitoring EAB in our parks. To learn more about the Emerald Ash Borer, visit the City's website at http://www.naperville.il.us/eab.aspx
The Park District is committed to developing and implementing recycling programs, such programs such as:
- Recycling of paper and cardboard at all facilities
- Recycling of aluminum and plastic bottles at all facilities, maintenance garages, sports complexes and community parks.
- Recycling of electrical ballasts and mercury containing lamps district wide.
- Recycling of NiCad batteries, rechargeable batteries (non-NiCad and single use batteries). Collection containers are at the 219 Mill Street, 421 West Martin and 3415 Book Rd. Maintenance shops.
- Recycling of scrap metals.
- Recycling of old rubber tires.
- Recycling of motor vehicle fluids such as motor oils and anti-freeze.
- Recycling in our Parks.
- There will be recycling barrels available for the collection of aluminum and plastic beverage containers in our Sports Complexes, Centennial Beach, and coming soon to the Riverwalk and Community parks.
- Poison Ivy
Canadian geese populations have grown beyond the ability of the Park District lakes to accommodate them. The Park District has taken a three-step approach to this issue.
1. Control the population - this is done through a procedure called egg depredation that prevents the eggs from hatching. This is a humane approach for which the Park District must be licensed.
2. Exclude - in some areas we are using trained Border Collies to move the geese out of an area.
3. Educate - the general public not to feed the wildlife.
Occasionally a beaver will move into a park area and begin to damage nearby trees as it erects its home. On these occasions, the Park District will hire a licensed trapper to trap the beaver and have it removed.
The Park District has not developed a deer management program. In most incidences of bothersome deer, our park is adjacent to a Forest Preserve that has deer management programs. When contacted by these agencies, the Park District cooperates with their management programs.
Poison Ivy Control
Poison Ivy has become a more widespread concern. When this plant presents a problem along a trail or play area, the Park District will eradicate it.