Story by Steve Paquin
Grass Lake is a hidden gem in the Kenny neighborhood, cherished by dog walkers, bird watchers, cross-country skiers, and exercise enthusiasts alike. While the land around the lake falls under the purview of the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and its Forestry Department, the resources of those organizations are stretched thin. As a result, much routine maintenance of the Grass Lake paths and plants is coordinated by Kenny residents who live near the lake. (Most notably, Paul and Kathrynne Baumtrog have been tireless in their efforts to keep the southeastern paths in excellent condition. Thank you!)
KNA is looking into creating a program to assist Grass Lake neighbors on an organizational level. Tentatively called Friends of Grass Lake, KNA will ask neighbors how we can provide resources and people to lighten their load not only on buckthorn removal, but also important projects such as trail maintenance, installation and maintenance of wood duck houses, trash pickup, native plantings, and any other needs identified by the group.
Join the Fight Against Buckthorn
Neighbors are planning a November 9 “buckthorn bust.” All Kenny neighbors are invited to volunteer at this or other “busts” coming up. Watch Nextdoor and KNA’s Facebook and Instagram pages for details.
You may have read about the invasive menace of buckthorn in previous issues of this newsletter. Once sold by nurseries as a decorative hedge, buckthorn has been on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s “Restricted Noxious Weed List” since 2001. Unfortunately, it is choking off much of the plant diversity around Grass Lake. Thriving in almost any condition — from shade to full sun, drought to poor soil — buckthorn creates a dense underlayer beneath trees, smothering native plants by depriving them of light, moisture, and nutrients. Buckthorn is easy to spot in late fall because it has purple-black berries and remains green long after other plants have changed color and dropped their leaves.
Buckthorn infestation is widespread throughout the city, and the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board encourages residents to manage the plant through volunteer-coordinated buckthorn busts.
Removing buckthorn is not a one-time solution: it requires ongoing effort. The plant is well established, tough, and persistent; so only consistent action will allow us to restore the native biodiversity of Grass Lake. Please consider spending an afternoon with us to help control this invasive threat.
Can’t make it to a buckthorn bust? No problem: you’ll have plenty of opportunities to volunteer. Upcoming projects include refurbishing wood duck houses over the winter. KNA is excited to support neighbors to care for this beautiful urban wetland. Together, we can make a lasting difference.
