Let grass grow in parks

The article “Budget trims mean less grass-cutting; KC parks officials identify acres that could go without mowing all but once or twice a year” (6/28, Local) made my day. I have a saying: “If you go hungry, you will get smart.” You will have to use your brain to get by. What is it about grass that causes people to think it has to be cut if it grows? You don’t cut trees.

Kansas City Parks and Recreation may have 1,000 acres of grass that is not used for foot traffic. Let it grow for wildlife and see what happens. In time, small animals and birds will come, then falcons, hawks and owls. When wildlife does come, then people will come to see nature as it should be.

One person in the article said an unmowed meadow in Swope Park “looks like hay.” If some fertile areas did grow tall, when they matured they could be cut and baled to feed the zoo animals.

Kansas City Parks is partners with Kansas City Wildlands. Let’s get the other partners to help maintain the 2,335 acres of parkland better at less cost. I have volunteered 24 years for Jacomo Parks.

R.E. Haston
Master gardener emeritus
Independence

Comments

[hajkar]

I might add that despite my efforts to curtail the "wilderness", there is no shortage of a fair variety of critters living in my back yard. Plenty of small animals. Chipmunks, bunnies and squirrels. Even a raccoon for a while. I've even spotted a hawk or two circling overhead.

Then there is Shawnee Mission Park. Even though they cut the grass and trim the trees they still have an over-abundance of wildlife.

*shrugs*

[Kee]

R.E. has been inhaling the fertilizer it appears....

[hajkar]

"You don't cut trees."

I prune my trees regularly.