Meacham Creek Park is managed by the Medinah Park District. It is a 12-acre park filled with pathways and hiking trails. The park district was seeking a professional consultant to lean on for best management practices in their natural area. The park was overrun with invasive species including a woody infestation. The creek bank vegetation was filled with phragmites and cattails. Pizzo & Associates was brought in to treat the invasive species throughout the park.
Pizzo & Associates provided recommendations to control woody and wetland invasive species infestation. Natural area stewardship began in 2023 with site visits using targeted herbicide, hand-pulling of weeds, and removal of phragmites. To help boost the native plants, prescribed fire is used in rotation every 3 years. Controlled burns help aid in plant growth so that natives can gain an edge over invasive species with additional growth time. The deep roots of native plants eventually out compete shallow root systems of invasive species making it more difficult for invasive species to take over which are very aggressive and can overwhelm an area in a short amount of time.
The native plants in the park help to attract and protect wildlife. So bring a lunch with you to enjoy at the picnic tables while watching the various wildlife in the park.
Founded in 1988, Pizzo & Associates is one of the Midwest’s largest ecological restoration firms with over 170 industry awards. We have the experience and know-how to restore natural environments.
We work with a large variety of public and private landowners on habitat restoration projects of all sizes. We help with everything from installations to ongoing management, which is needed for optimal results.
