Last week a resident wrote to the Kent Reporter with concerns about the use of pesticides at Clark Lake Park and the potential risks and impacts to the park and park users.
I want to clarify that we did make an application the week of April 12, but only within the small parking lot off of 240th. This is done to control weeds and invasive plants within the sidewalk, curbs and parking lot area. We did not and do not, however, apply pesticides anywhere else in the 130-acre park.
The city practices integrated pest management principles in all of our parks. Specific to Clark Lake Park, our primary pest management goal is to control the invasive plants and weeds. Throughout the park, our primary control methods remain mowing and many hours of manual removal by city staff and numerous dedicated volunteers.
Great progress has been made in recent years. The parking lot remains vulnerable, though. Invasive plants such as scotch broom, canary reed grass and blackberry often start in high traffic areas and work their way into the property from there. The application in the parking lot strategically targets this small yet vulnerable area and better protects the rest of the natural area from the encroachment of invasive plants.
By being strategic in our practices, we have reduced our use of pesticides throughout the park system and continue to seek further reductions as we continually refine our practices.
I hope this additional information on our approach to pesticide use helps address some of the concerns voiced by Ms. Long.
– Jeff Watling, director of Kent Parks Recreation and Community Services
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