Council hears park operations update: reduced mowing, native prairie plantings and AED locations

Parks operations staff told the Davenport Park and Recreation Advisory Council that the department is reducing routine mowing in selected sites to establish native prairie and pollinator habitat while still planning targeted mowing before winter where needed. Staff said the hill at Lindsay Park was seeded with native grasses and will be mowed down once more before winter to help establishment; the intent is to manage it as a tall-grass prairie requiring reduced mowing. "That hill there for Lindsay Park will be mowed down 1 more time," a parks operations staff member said. At Tyler Park, staff said the area along the south fence line (about 200–300 feet from the playground) will be reconditioned by removing poor turf, bringing in topsoil and planting plugs of native forbs (flowering plants) rather than reseeding. The plan includes mulched walking paths and a "prairie in progress" sign to mark the educational element. Council members also asked where AEDs (automated external defibrillators) are located; staff said AEDs are available in manned facilities such as swimming pools, River's Edge, the 20 Ninth Street shop, golf-course maintenance areas and the golf clubhouse. "When you turn them on, they give you word for word direction on what to do," staff said, noting training for employees and the life-saving purpose of the devices. Staff emphasized that some reduced-mowing areas will remain standing through winter to provide habitat and will be cut back in spring.