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shaggy
05/21/2008 4:16 PM by John M
A Union Hill resident has shared that the city has cut back on cutting the grass around Jefferson Park and that some folks are worried that this could create an unsafe environment at the park this summer.
A question comes to mind… All of our grand parks on the hill were put together well before the invention of the weed-wacker. Does anyone know how the parks would’ve been maintained back in the day, to what condition?
Everything in the old days when you look at the old pics appear to be very clean… although they probably weren’t. I’m sure fields weren’t cut and I’ve wondered the same question with the hills being so steep… would they have cut them?
They need some sheep.
or goats….
i’ve been thinking a lot about how gas prices will affect our landscapes, and it seems to me that we should be encouraging the planting of perennial groundcovers, wildflowers, veggies, herbs, etc. if the city would put in even ivy or any mint or lemon balm, then the shagginess would disappear.
Ah, or perhaps native plants and fruit trees would not only be functional but better for wildlife (and ultimately, us).
If you haven’t read it I recommend Food Not Lawns.
We certainly have better things to put our resource towards than lawns and the maintenance thereof. Perhaps the hills would stop mudsliding if we weren’t mowing and growing grass there…..
just a few thoughts.
If the city didn’t flagrantly waste money doing stupid things I would say they are doing a good measure in saving resources (gas/money) in not cutting the grass.
Any thoughts on what the unsafe environment refers to in the original post? Lions, tigers, bears, oh my!
On a serious note – they need to do something as it will harbor mosquitoes and rodents. Since we no longer “spray” for mosquitos I am sure they will be rampant this year with taller grass all around!
If the city is saving money, how about fixing some of the swiss cheese they call roads around the city!?!?!
Eric
If the city doesn’t have to cut their own grass how can they cite property owners with overgrown grass/weeds?
It turns out they do not cite people for overgrown grass. My neighbor has grass up to the roof and the city found “no violation.” Also, mosquitos become an issue with standing water, uncut grass is generally not a problem unless it creates more standing water – which in this city was usually there to begin with high grass or not.
I know mosquitos love me and they lay low in the ivy around the back yard fence and see them flying low to the ground.
Also, the city (Department of Community Development) CAN cite you for Abate Violation of overgrown grass and weeds in your yard. There was a notice posted 2 weeks ago on an abandoned house across the street and I called the city to tell them no one lives there but was told they still have to post and give the owners 24 or 48 (can’t remember) hours to respond.
Eric