I don't think it's nonsense, Tony. In this day and age, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are pretty widely viewed as pretty backwards. Given Mayor Nutter's emphasis on being green, I think the issue of what chemicals are being pumped into Clark and other parks is an entirely valid one for public discussion - not just for safety of kids and pets but for broader ecological reasons. And there's no need to be defensive - I don't think anyone is accusing Moon Site Management of being evil people. That doesn't mean folks can't raise issues with specific things they do that people might want changed.
I think Glenn has a point. Does anyone care if there are dandelions in Clark Park? We all want grass in our park, but is fertilizer really necessary? If so could we find a greener alternative? Let's call Mike McGrath (from the radio, not the neighborhood)! I imagine there would be a lot of popular support in the neighborhood for trying to make Clark Park a model of green, ecofriendly maintenance. I would imagine that that is the sort of thing Mike Diberardinis would leap to support. Given that "green" is hot, and that FOCP's job is theoretically to advocate for the desires and interests of park users and the surrounding community, this seems like an ideal campaign to take up. I would guess there a lot of funding sources for this type of thing right now. I mean, if the city can embark on this project: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/62007227.html Why can't we eliminate chemicals from our parks? If FOCP were to take up this battle, I might even be lured to get involved. Really, I can't see why you're so dismissive of the issue. Kimm On 9/29/09 6:42 PM, "Anthony West" <[email protected]> wrote: > It's all very well known, KC. It's been going on for 10 years now. Clark > Park is a part of the City of Philadelphia Dept. of Recreation and and > this is what the City welcomes to have done in this park. It spares the > City the cost of doing the job itself, which is appreciated when there > is a budget crisis, as there is now. > > The guys who were hired are Moon Site Management. They are the reason > the trash is removed twice a week rather than once a week during the > peak season. They are the reason the grass in the park is mown more than > once every 2 months in the peak season. And they are the sole reason the > grass gets any maintenance at all; your tax dollars purchase ZERO lawn > care ever, for our neighborhood's most cherished and most heavily used > and abused lawn. > > It isn't enough. But it's better than nothing. Neighbors who care about > Clark Park pitch in every spring to the 'Party for the Park' fundraiser > that supports this neighborhood green initiative. Maybe you'll join us > next year! > > I can't tell you tonight precisely which ground-care treatment was > applied today. At this time of year, it's more likely to have been a > fertilizer than an herbicide. Some fertilizers are toxic to animals, > though, and require a certain amount of settling in before creatures > should walk across treated areas. That's why warning signs are placed by > Rec. When the risk has passed, the signs are removed. > > For people who want the facts on this particular chemical, we'll round > that up and report back to you tomorrow. > > In the meantime, please don't panic about this "poison" nonsense. People > who've lived in the neighborhood for a while have heard all Glenn's > stuff before. It is more of a personal problem than a public problem. > > -- Tony West > > > > KC Hibbard wrote: >> Does anyone know who actually contracted the ground poisoning? Seems >> that that party should be targeted. The most immediate at risk part of >> the population from herbicide and pesticide use is children and pets. >> They have a faster metabolism. Think of the kids kicking around in the >> dust at the fair this past week. Breathing poison dirt. The long range >> risks involve destroying our watershed. This practice is >> irresponsible and must be stopped. >> >> It's funny that Penn is touting it's committment to environmental >> causes, creating more green space all the while dumping herbicides all >> summer and wacking the grass with weed wackers so it dies at the edges >> of the lawns so they repeat the grass- seed -poison cycle. >> >> Is it UCD, FOCP or Fairmount Park? Who hired these guys? >> >> ---- >> You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the >> list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see >> <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. >> >> > > > ---- > You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the > list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see > <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
