Settlers Park - Prairie and Wetland Restoration Project
Background
Settlers Park was founded in 2001, when the land was dedicated to the City as part of a residential development. The western half of the park, designated as the “Green Meadow” or “Zelena Louka” was intended to become a native prairie but lacked funds to execute the project at that time. In 2023, the City of New Prague was awarded grant funding through the MN DNR Expedited Conservation Partners Legacy Grant to convert the western section of the park into native prairie. The purpose of the project is to eliminate the existing and noxious and invasive plants/trees that degrade the native plant community and hinder the water quality of the wetland. Some existing invasive species include buckthorn, reed canary grass, brome grass, etc.
Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) state mixes of mesic and riparian native prairie grasses (35-241 and 34-262) will be used. These mixes will include multiple species of grasses, forbs, sedges, and rushes such as big bluestem, purple prairie clover, rough blazing star, switch grass, nodding wild rye, Virginia mountain mint, fox sedge, and American slough grass. These plant species all range in various heights and blooming seasons. This means that there will be constant flowering/blooming in the park for most of the year, which will provide ample food for pollinators and contribute to the natural beauty of the park.
**Project Update 7/8/25
- Good germination of cover crop (oats) evident everywhere, and drill lines are (were) visible from the seeding.
- Individual weeds observed scattered that are taller than the cover crop (oats) -giant ragweed, pigweed, velvet leaf, lambs quarter. None of these are a long-term concern and will be controlled with mowing.
- First mowing likely to occur yet this week (7/28) or next week (8/4) by the contractor.
- Only mesic prairie areas were seeded this spring. The remainder of the site (wet prairie) will be seeded this fall. This will allow better control of species like reed canary grass and better site conditions for seed installation. Seeding this spring was very wet in some areas.
- We are the most 'difficult' time/phase for the general public and its appearance. It will look 'weedy' to the inexperienced eye and only look 'maintained' after cutting. It will take some time to start showing flowers/color, although some small seedlings should be visible later this year.
- Overall, the site is on track with what we'd expect this early in the process. There will be some problematic patches here or there, but this is expected on most sites.
Timeline
Project work began in the Fall of 2023. The grant requires that the project must be completed by the end of June 2026.
Below is the rough timeline of the project:
2024
October/November: Prep Herbicide (if possible) - staff were notified on 11/21/24 that no work will begin until 2025, which was after the neighbor letters were sent out on 11/18/24.
2025
May: Prep Herbicide
May/June: Prep Mowing
June: Prep Herbicide (if needed)
June: Native Seeding
July: Management Mowing
August: Management Mowing
August/September: Management Mowing (if needed)
September: Spot Herbicide
2026
May: Spot Herbicide
May/June: Management Mowing
June: Spot Herbicide
These dates are subject to change due to weather conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who will be doing the work?
A: The City's hired contractor is RES (Resource Environmental Solutions, LLC).
Q: Where is the work taking place?
A: The whole western half of Settlers Park (6 acres), specifically the “Green Meadow” portion of the park will be converted into a native prairie. Work will occur from 10th Ave SE to the trail entrance sign near the parking lot. Herbicide spraying and native seeding will be applied up to the property line. RES is aware of the property markers and was given surveys to prevent any encroachment into neighboring properties.
Q: Why were several trees removed?
A: Several trees in the park were ash trees that showed potential or were infested with Emerald Ash Borer. Other tree species were invasive, internally rotting, or structurally compromised - based on the 2023 Public Tree Inventory conducted by Bolton & Menk. All the remaining trees are not anticipated to be removed except for one tree in the stormwater pond, which will be removed in the winter.
Q: What herbicide is being used?
A: They will use a combination of aquatic-safe glyphosate (Aquaneat) and aquatic-safe triclopyr (Vastlan). There may be another herbicide used just in areas where there is horsetail (equisetum spp) but working out those details now.
Q: What is the procedure for managing invasives in the wetland/stormwater pond?
A: Prep and management of these areas will be similar to elsewhere on the site – herbicide application and mowing.
Q: Why is the healthy grass being sprayed with herbicide?
A: The whole western section of Settlers Park will be converted into prairie grass. It is easier for the new prairie seed to establish and grow without the grass, especially since this is a no-till project.
Q: When will the grasses begin to sprout once they're planted?
A: This is a complex question because it all depends on the species. Some species will germinate right away, while others will need to stratify in the soil for a certain amount of time. Species that need cold, moist stratification may not germinate until the following year. This is true for both grasses and wildflowers. Even once they germinate they are very small, often the size of a quarter, and put all their energy into root growth. So, it’ll take 2-3 years to start showing establishment. Maybe another year or two after that for full establishment. Some of the species we’d expect to see early on are black eyed Susan, wild bergamot, false sunflower, Canada wildrye, golden Alexander, common milkweed, and heath aster. Others will fill in over time.
Q: How will you minimize herbicide spraying from going into neighboring properties?
A: RES will be cautious on wind directions and speed. They may switch to using a backpack sprayer or wand application along edges if needed. That will provide them the most accuracy along boundary markers when doing the application. The middle of the site will be broadcast sprayed with equipment.
Q: What will the site look like when it is complete?
A: Staff does not have pictures of the outcome of the project, but BWRS riparian and mesic prairie seed mixes (35-241 and 34-262) will be used. The attached documents to this website are a list of all the seeds that will be planted as well as their scientific name, and % of mix. More information can be found online regarding each species’ mature height, appearance, etc. Also attached is a project diagram of where the seeding will take place.
Q: What are the benefits of this project?
A: There are multiple benefits to the project. For instance, the project will consist of the removal of noxious and invasive species, which will strengthen the existing ecosystem. The project will also reduce the need to mow acres of grass, saving costs, time, labor, and fossil fuels. The seed mixes that were chosen will bloom throughout the year, providing a constant source of nutrients/food for pollinators. Furthermore, it will help delineate properties that abut the park.