Croton Point Grasslands Restoration: Project Timeline Talk

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY — The grassland on the capped landfill at Croton Point Park has deteriorated sharply since the late 1990s. Now work will begin in 2019 to increase native plants and improve bird habitat on the landfill while reducing the number of invasive plant species.

The project was conceived by Larry Weaner, a nationally renowned landscape architect, in a report on potential grassland design and management specifications for the area that was funded by Friends of Westchester County Parks (“Grassland Design & Management Specifications, Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson”).

"Grassland habitat is disappearing throughout the northeast, making the grassland on the former landfill at Croton Point Park a critical breeding site and migratory stopover point for grassland nesting birds, many of which have special conservation status," Weaner said in 2016. "Our challenge was to develop practical strategies for addressing invasive exotic plant growth threatening the grassland's integrity while causing as few habitat disturbances as possible during that process."

The grassland, now dominated by ecologically undesirable vegetation such as non-native cool season grasses and invasive and non-native mugwort, is managed by the Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities, which also monitors and manages methane emissions for the county's landfill. In 2016, $630,000 was secured in state, federal and county funds to strengthen its ecological health, and the project went out to bid in 2018.

In addition to enhancing the overall ecology and aesthetics of the park, the project will improve the Hudson River Estuary bald eagle habitat, the largest in the lower Hudson flyway.

You can hear Weaner discuss the plan and the timeline at the Croton Free Library May 23. The session is co-sponsored by the Saw Mill River Audubon Society and the Croton Conservation Advisory Council.

WHEN: 7 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, May 23
WHERE: Croton Free Library
WHAT: Larry Weaner Landscape Associates is the designer of the restoration plan for the Croton Point Park landfill grasslands. Hear Larry Weaner and Jenna Webster describe how the restoration plan was developed and the timeline for this exciting and innovative project.

SEE ALSO: Croton Point Meadow Restoration Plan Picks up $630,000 in State Funding