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Dog‑park users tell council they believe herbicide spraying is damaging pines and causing health concerns
Summary
A speaker in citizen comments told the Lawrence City Common Council that herbicide or pesticide overspray at the city dog park is harming pine trees and may be causing allergic reactions in people and pets, and asked the council to address the practice.
A speaker during citizen comments told the Lawrence City Common Council on June 2 that herbicide or pesticide spraying at a Lawrence dog park has damaged pine trees and may be producing health effects for users and animals.
The speaker said pine trees at the dog park have round dead spots roughly 4 feet up and attributed the damage to “careless overspray of toxic pesticides, toxic herbicides.” The speaker said prior petitions to the previous and current administrations asking staff not to spray herbicides in the dog park had gone unanswered and reported reports of people developing hives after contact with dogs that had been near the sprayed trees.
A council member suggested deer rubbing their antlers can cause similar marks on trees, and the speaker reiterated that the discoloration appears in spots where weeds had previously been sprayed. The issue was raised for council awareness during citizen comments; the transcript does not show a formal staff referral or immediate action taken during the meeting.
The speaker requested the council investigate the park’s weed‑control practices and materials safety procedures so the city can address potential health and vegetation impacts.
