Naperville Park District Plans To Remove Invasive Trees, Shrubs

NAPERVILLE, IL — This fall and winter, the Naperville Park District will remove invasive shrubs and trees in several parks to help restore areas to their natural balance.

Several projects are planned that include removing pear and mulberry trees, buckthorn shrubs and other invasive plants. The following projects are slated for the coming months:

• Hobson West Ponds: Second phase of invasive plant removal, including clearing out mulberry, buckthorn, pear and white poplar, especially near the north pond.
• May Watts Park: Black alder and other woody invasive plants will be removed along the pond's shore and near Whispering Hills Drive. The aim is to decrease erosion and improve the water quality.
• DuPage River Park: Trees and shrubs will be removed along the river banks and surrounding areas and replaced with seed mixtures.
• Knoch Knolls Park: Buckthorn, honeysuckle, box elder and other plants along the river will be removed to help stabilize the banks and prevent erosion.
• Summerfield Lake Park: Crews will work to stabilize banks by removing pear trees and sandbar willows. A seed mixture will be planted to help foster the growth of native plants.

In a statement, Director of Parks Tom Quigley said that the invasive plant removal projects are "part of ongoing park maintenance and the Park District’s commitment to environmental stewardship."