Deerfield Township Service Department - Parks & Recreation
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Kingswood: Invasive Plant Removal

Brush Piles of Invasive Pear Staged Along Side of Path for Chipping
Deerfield Township and the Ohio River Foundation have partnered to bring new life to Kingswood Park through an exciting environmental restoration project. This project includes removing harmful invasive Callery Pear trees and Honeysuckle on 20 acres of Kingswood North.

Ohio River Foundation Contact
Jessica Tegge
jtegge@ohioriverfdn.org

What is the project timeline?
  • The project was approved by the Board of Trustees at the June 16, 2020 work session.
  • Invasive plant removal is set to begin on Monday, June 22, 2020.
  • The current 20.6 acre work is expected to take about 3 weeks.

Where exactly will this project take place?
  • Target areas are on the north side of Kingswood (The park is cut into north and south by Innovation Way. The north side of park has the large pond and the south side of park has a parking lot and Community Pavilion.)
  • The Project Area includes all labeled areas west of I (not including I).
  • Areas included: A, B, C, D, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, X, Y, Z.
  • Please see Additional Forms and Files section below for a link to the Project Area Map.

How is the project funded?
  • The current 20.6 acre project is funded through a Duke Energy Foundation Grant secured by the Ohio River Foundation.
  • Deerfield Township is providing in-kind contributions.

Why Remove Invasive Callery Pear and Honeysuckle?
  • Pear and Honeysuckle are quickly taking over the wooded areas of Kingswood North.
  • If not controlled, these invasive plants will cause environmental and economic harm to an ecosystem.
  • Invasive species spread rapidly and quickly shade-out the healthy variety of wildflowers, grasses, and trees. Eventually, an ecosystem is dominated with invasive species. Left with nowhere to live, the bees, butterflies, birds, and other critters move away.
  • By removing these two species, the Kingswood ecosystem will begin to function as it once did, naturally. There will be room once again for local wildflowers, grasses, and trees to spread and thrive.

How will plants and trees be removed?
  • Honeysuckle shrubs and Callery Pear trees will be cut, chipped, and removed from property without removing understory plants.