Woodland Park

The Parks Board heard a presentation by Scott Taylor, the consultant the city hired to prepare a management action plan for Woodland Park. Scott really did a fine job putting together a detailed description of the existing ecology of the park and several options going forward. The Board will be reviewing the options included in his report at our next meeting on February 13.

The report divides the park into three natural units and makes specific recommendations for each. The major challenge facing the park are the garlic mustard and buckthorn infestations. The first order of business is to continue the efforts started by the Travers to eradicate these invasives. The city has already contracted with Driftless Land Stewards to spray for garlic mustard over three years. You may have seen them in the park this past December. I will aso be organizing another group of 'weed warriors' this Spring to pull garlic mustard.

We also have an informal group of volunteers that conducts prescribed burns in the park.

The Savanna Oak Foundation, Inc website has excellent materials describing oak savannas and explaining restoration efforts. Their main object is restoration of the Pleasant Valley Conservancy, an outstanding natural area in western Dane County.