Committee proposes $60,000 native planting project for Riverside Park; will require legislative approval

City staff and committee members discussed a proposal to plant native grasses and wildflowers in four areas of Riverside Park, with year-one costs budgeted at $60,000 and the zoo proposed as the contractor to manage planting and maintenance.

Staff described four target areas — the Riverside outflow, Riverside Cannon upper existing area, a middle section and the Riverside Upper East near the airplane displays — where they would mow, treat invasive thistle with herbicide over multiple applications, plug native grasses in the fall and seed in December 2025. Staff said the zoo has done similar projects and would spray problematic weeds three or four times during the year, plug grasses in the fall and seed in December, then continue seasonal treatments until the plantings establish.

Dan, identified in the meeting as the staff member who will head the project, said the blue-marked area has significant thistle and will require mowing and spray treatment before plugs will establish. Staff said the native grasses will likely be about a foot high when mature and will include wildflowers to provide color in spring and summer. The project’s aim is to reduce mowing on steep and sparsely vegetated slopes and to create lower-maintenance, ecologically appropriate plantings over time.

Staff said the $60,000 estimate covers product, plugs, seeds and year-one management including spraying; year-two costs would be lower and likely limited to treatment rather than full replugs or seeding. They cautioned that establishment will take multiple seasons and that ongoing annual maintenance is required to keep invasive species from returning.

A committee member said the project will require legislation and a 3–0 vote to move forward; staff said they would advance the item to council after that approval. No final legislative action or council vote occurred at the meeting; the item was presented for discussion and preliminary approval steps were described.

Staff noted they had solicited quotes, budgeted the amount in the current year, and plan to coordinate with the zoo and with Lauren Rushman, who had reviewed site conditions. They also said they do not anticipate needing topsoil amendments for the targeted areas, which would have added cost; that assessment came from the contractor’s review.

“No question it’s going to take time to get established, but once it is it’s going to really brighten that place up and save us from mowing,” a committee speaker said during discussion.