storyhill.net, April 2, 2007

Slow going at Mitchell Blvd. Park
County risk management blocks controlled burn

April 2 -- The battle against rapidly spreading invasive plant species in Mitchell Blvd. Park will be take much longer than necessary if the county's insurance and risk manager cannot be convinced of the benefits of a controlled burn in the park, according to parks officials.

The risk manager not only wanted a fire truck stationed at the park during the burn, but wanted a guarantee that the truck would not be called away no matter what happened elsewhere in the city, County Supervisor Lynne DeBruin told Story Hill residents at the Story Hill Neighborhood Association's quarterly meeting.

The county, with high hopes and expectations, planted natural areas on the south and west sides of the park when it was renovated a few years ago. Since then, invasive garlic mustard and burdock, among other noxious plants, have begun pushing out more desirable native plants.

"The whole naturalization program is much more difficult than one would realize," parks Operations Manager Chuck Ward said.

The natural area can take more than eight years to restore without a controlled burn, and four to five years with a controlled burn, DeBruin said.

The county's bureaucracy stands in the way, however. One concern of the risk manager is that smoke from the fire will float over the freeway, trigger an asthma attack in a person in a car, and cause an accident, DeBruin said.

The Parks Department is trying to show "Yes, we can do it (a burn) in a responsible manner -- we're not going to burn down Kelly's Bleachers," said Paul Kortebein, natural lands manager for the Parks Department. Kelly's Bleachers is a popular Bluemound Rd. bar.

In a related matter, DeBruin said the county will plant new trees in the natural area on the south end of the park. The spots where they will be planted are marked by pink stakes.

In addition, she said, the Parks Department will try to ensure that the bathrooms in the pavilion are open on a more consistent basis.