November 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 93

CONSERVATION TASK FORCE
National Recreation and Park Association

best management
practice

Reduced Mowing Saves Funds and
Improves Natural Resources
Project Description
In 2004, a mowing reduction plan was developed by Whetsone Park in Columbus,
Ohio, to address the budget cuts resulting
from a severe economic downturn in central Ohio. Mowing acres were reduced by
40 percent, which considerably reduced
the department's grounds maintenance
costs and at the same time yielded significant environmental benefits.
All regional, community, and neighborhood parks were evaluated and categorized by level of use and development
as well as the conservation of natural resources and wildlife habitat. Vegetative
buffers were established to protect reservoir shorelines and other waterways,
including rivulets and even drainage
ditches. Grassland areas were expanded to accommodate ground-nesting bird
species, such as by expanding habitat for
field sparrow, bobolink, and other grassland-nesting species.
Twelve previously mowed areas, including embankments, were planted
with native wildflowers and deep-rooted grasses. Although there was a public
education campaign developed to support the new mowing plan, these practices were met with much public criticism.
The agency followed with a marketing
and education campaign promoting the
environmental and economic benefits of
the grounds maintenance plan and eventually received public support. When the
wildflowers bloomed, park neighbors
were taken with their beauty and other
neighborhoods requested wildflowers in
lieu of mowing.

Park. Whetstone Park is an intensively
used 300-acre urban oasis in the middle
of densely populated neighborhoods in
Columbus. A portion of the park that was
used as an alternate soccer field, but was
often too wet for play due to its proximity to the Olentangy River, was converted
to a no-mow area. A five-acre area was
planted with native species and established as Whetstone Prairie. The Wild
Ones, a nonprofit organization that promotes native landscapes, offered to design, develop, and manage the prairie.
Although this group is no longer officially involved in management of the prairie, volunteers known as Friends of the
Prairie periodically remove invasive species such as thistle, work with the city to

conduct prescribed burns, and maintain
the grass paths that weave through the
prairie. Volunteer support has been critical throughout the life of this project because of reduced support from the park
and recreation agency due to severe
budget cuts.
The busy community center in Whetstone Park utilizes the prairie extensively
for various purposes and it has become a
valuable community nature resource for
urban Columbus, Ohio.
For more information on how to reduce
mowing and gain public support for new
conservation objectives, contact: Elayna Grody, Water Protection Coordinator,
City of Columbus Public Utilities (Ohio),
614.645.1721, EMGrody@Columbus.gov.

Mark Young

Conservation Benefits
Beyond Cost Savings
One of the best outcomes for conservation of the mowing reduction plan
was the creation of the Whetstone Prairie within the boundaries of Whetstone

A previously mowed 5-acre section of Whetstone Park in Columbus, Ohio, was
transformed into a demonstration prairie. The prairie requires little maintenance,
protects an adjacent stream, and is a resource for teachers and students engaged
in environmental education.

w w w . N R P A . O R G / c on s e r v a t i on

november 2011

Parks & Recreation

November 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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