Are there pesticides in your park?
2010 June 10
Central City, oregon, parks, pesticides, portland
Frederick Wallace (left) and Leonard Brightmon of Central City Concern took part last fall in a volunteer work crew that weeds Lair Hill Park. Efforts to go pesticide-free at other Portland parks, however, have suffered from a lack of volunteers.
Most people visit parks to play with their children or dogs. Some like the quiet and chance for reflection closer to nature. But what if the park is using pesticides to control bugs or weeds? Does that affect the enjoyment you have for a park?
Several parks in Portland and other cities have been testing pesticide-free alternatives. Many of these efforts rely on volunteer work to weed and maintain the sites; and the word isn’t getting out to the residents that they need to volunteer. The program in Portland is at risk of closing down. Not only will that affect the environment, but also the opportunities to work and volunteer for park maintenence, which can be as equally important (see Central City Concern for more information about teaching job training skills through park clean up).
Are there pesticides in your park? | Green Growth Cascadia.
