Article Contributed on: 9/12/2007 12:10:40 PM
Is ragweed, thistle, foxtail, bindweed, milkweed, and others classified as natural vegetation or weeds? I guess it all depends on where it grows. If a homeowner has an area of natural vegetation he is informed by The City of Denver to cut down his weeds. If there are weeds in Denver Parks they are classified as natural vegetation and cant' be disturbed..
I recently read Scott Bolt's article about Denver Parks & Rec. starting to convert 22 arcres of Ruby Hill Park to natural vegetation by applying Roundup herbicide to the grass planted there.
http://denver.yourhub.com/DenverSouthwest/Stories/News/Politics/Story~359444.aspx I don't know what size 22 acres is in relation to the total size of Ruby Hill. Is it a small part or a major portion? I don't know.
anyway, after reading his article I took a walk through Sanderson Gulch Park and noticed the weeds were getting pretty tall (over 2 feet tall) around the 3 picnic tables they have placed in the park near the ball field. I filed a report using Denver's 311 website. Incidentally, that 311 website is very convenient to use and if you start an account you can track your reports. Yesterday a mower was at the park mowing a strip about 8 feet on both sides of the path. In the afternoon I received a phone call from Bob the mower, (sorry don't remember his real name). He reported to me that the area around the picnic tables were a natural vegetation area and he can't mow in a natural vegetation area. I asked about the 2 feet high ragweed and he said that is a part of the natural vegetation.
Attached are photos of the natural vegetation area. In my opinion they look like weeds to me.This is more than likely an example of how the 22 acres of Ruby Hill Park will look when it is converted to natural vegetation. I can understand not planting any new grass, but, destroying current areas that has grass is beyond me.
Late last fall Parks & Rec. had a crew cleaning out the weeds in the area in question and along the creek banks. Will this happen this year? Or that now it is classified as natural vegetation do they avoid doing any maintenance in a natural vegetation area? I would speculate that public opinion will dictate what action will be taken.