Appendix L
Maintenance Level Guidelines
NATURAL AREA OVERVIEW The Naperville Park District recognizes the importance of managing natural areas throughout our parks. The Park District’s goal is to restore our natural areas to sustainable native ecosystems that benefit the environment and wildlife including birds, mammals, fish, reptiles and insects. Removing invasive species and restoring native plants to an area is essential to the ecosystem: both for the plant community and the wildlife that lives in and relies on that plant community for food and habitat. Natural areas are designated into one of three categories: a prairie, wetland, or woodland. Each Park District natural area is evaluated and labeled as either a high, medium, or low quality area based on its ability to sustain itself with less maintenance, or if it will require more labor to return it to a sustainable level. These efforts can take years of maintenance before a sustainable level is reached. An invasive species is defined as a species that is not native to an ecosystem and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm. Many times these invasive species spread quickly and out-compete native plants. Most invasive species provide little to no benefit to the ecosystem or the wildlife in the area. Prescribed burns are one tool trained employees can use to maintain a natural area to help remove invasive species and trigger germination of natives that depend on fire as part of their life cycle. Burning also reduces the amount of leaf and plant debris on the ground, clearing the site for native seeds to sprout and invasives to be better targeted. Areas may be mown with a large mower to prevent invasive species from flowering and setting seed. Mowing also allows light to reach the ground so later-germinating native plants have a chance to grow. Native plantings can be enhanced through spreading seeds, planting plugs, or planting trees and shrubs for quicker restoration of a site. A maintenance schedule has been created for each natural area in the district. The schedule includes intervals of prescribed burns, mowing (if needed), spreading native seed, removing invasive species, and planting native plugs. The amount of time spent on each assigned task will vary depending on the area’s condition, size, and priority within the district. This plan has been put together to help you determine the best course of action regarding the stewardship of the Park District’s Natural Areas. The plan details how to plant, establish and maintain a new planting as well as how to manage existing areas. It outlines information on how to care for bio swale areas and contains plant specific information and control methods. A chart is included with recommended control methods detailed by month. There is a list of natural areas found throughout the Naperville Park District along with acreage and square footage. In 2017, a ten year maintenance plan was created that listed each area by division and includes the park name, acreage and quality. Areas in yellow are performed by the Park District based on the technique to be used and the year to be completed. Work orders are generated annually in the Park District’s TMA system. Every five years, the ten year Natural Area Maintenance Guide will be reviewed and updated to include the next five years. Areas in purple are maintained by contractors. If you are dealing directly with a contractor there is a separate guide for them. Please use the appropriate one.
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Naperville Park District | 2023 MASTER PLAN
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