Naperville Park District Plans 2016 Seasonal Controlled Burns

Beginning in mid-March or as weather permits Naperville Park District crews will be conducting prescribed ground-level burns in natural areas of various parks throughout the community to improve the habitat for native plants.

"Controlled burns accomplish what prairie fires did for years in the Midwest, which is to control weeds and allow native vegetation to thrive," explained Director of Parks Kevin Finnegan.

Controlled burns may be conducted in spring and fall. Timing of spring burns depends on ground temperature after the snow melts, with only a small window of time when conditions are right. The ground needs to be sufficiently warm, but the grass must remain dormant for the burn to be successful. "Our staff is ready to conduct a burn in selected parks with short notice," added Finnegan.

Additionally, weather conditions and wind velocity and direction permit only a few sites to be burned each year. Trained crews supervise this process, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and Naperville Fire Department issue an annual permit to the Park District for this activity.

Residents near the selected sites will be notified via postcards that the Naperville Park District's controlled burn program will be conducted in their area in the near future. For more information about controlled burns in your area, please call 630-848-5035 or visit our website at www.napervilleparks.org.

The following parks have native plant areas that are targeted for burns in 2016; however, not all of the parks listed will receive burn treatment this spring.

2016 Burn Sites

North Parks

Arrowhead Park

Century Farms

Country Lakes Park

Nike Sports Complex

Riverwalk Park - Sindt Woods

Seager Park

Wil-O-Way Commons

Central Parks

Brighton Ridge

Carol Acres

Hobson West Ponds

May Watts Park

University Heights

Wildflower Park

South Parks

Brook Crossings

Clow Creek Greenway

Commissioners Park

DuPage River Park

DuPage River Sports Complex

Frontier Sports Complex

Knoch Knolls Park

Naperbrook Golf Course

Springbrook Crossings

Springbrook Golf Course

Springbrook Parkway