March 05--Sometime later this month -- after the earth has warmed up a bit, but before the grass starts to grow -- Naperville Park District workers will begin the annual process of using fire to combat nuisance or invasive plants while improving the land for native vegetation.
Twenty-four "controlled burns" are planned for the spring and fall on park district property, according to a Naperville Park District release. Officials of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Naperville Fire Department issue an annual permit to the park district for the burning process.
Controlled burning accomplishes "what prairie fires did for years in the Midwest, which is to control weeds and allow native vegetation to thrive," said Kevin Finnegan, the agency's director of parks.
The timing of the burns in spring "depends on ground temperature after the snow melts, with only a small window of time when conditions are right," the release said.
"The ground needs to be sufficiently warm, but the grass must remain dormant for the burn to be successful." In addition, "weather conditions and wind velocity and direction permit only a few sites to be burned each year."
Specially-trained crews conduct the burns, and can be ready to do so "with short notice," Finnegan said.
Residents living near each site will be notified via postcard that a controlled burn is to be conducted shortly in their neighborhood. Not all of the targeted areas will be burned during the spring.
In the "north parks" area, burns will be conducted at Arrowhead Park, Century Farms, Country Lakes Park, the Nike Sports Complex, Riverwalk Park-Sindt Woods, Seager Park and Wil-O-Way Commons.
In the "central parks" area, burns are scheduled for Brighton Ridge, Carol Acres, Hobson West Ponds, May Watts Park, University Heights and Wildflower Park.
In the "south parks" area, burns will be conducted in Brook Crossings, Clow Creek Greenway, Commissioners Park, DuPage River Park, the DuPage River Sports Complex, the Frontier Sports Complex, Knoch Knolls Park, the Naperbrook Golf Course, Springbrook Crossings, the Springbrook Golf Course and Springbrook Parkway.
The park district maintains and operates more than 2,400 acres of land, with 140 parks and facilities, and provides more than 1,500 recreational, arts and environmental programs and special events annually.
More information about the controlled burns is available by calling (630) 848-5035 or going to the park district's website, www.napervilleparks.org.
