Sylvan Park Prairie Restoration photo taken from the floating fishing dock. Look for the path leading up to the old Boy Scout Camp in the right third of the photo. Note all the woody debris upslope that needs to be pulled down, piled and burnt.
The Lanesboro Park Board has received a grant from the Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation to continue with the the removal of invasives (buckthorn, honeysuckle and red cedar) from the slopes above Sylvan Park and to restore the area to a pollinator prairie as residual prairie plants still exist on the slope. The grant will cover the cost of bringing goats back in 2027 to graze off re-emerging invasives.
You can see from the photo above the work that has been completed. Volunteers are being sought to help: 1) pull woody debris down the hill to the perimeter trail, and 2) put that debris onto a burn pile. Work is normally completed between 9 AM and 1 PM.
Work will proceed when there is only a minimal amount of snow on the ground and any day of the week. Volunteers would be notified via text messages when work is going to be performed. You can join the group when time and your schedule permits.
Next spring after the goats have grazed the area, the hillside will be reseeded with prairie pollinators to supplement the remnant prairie plants.
If interested in more information or to volunteer, please contact City Hall.