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Samuel Howlett Park

City of Rochester

City Beautiful CommissionWednesday, April 13, 2011

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2011 Survey Results Older demographic (68% of those surveyed 55 or older)

33% have kids, majority small kids (66% age 0-5)

In summer (April-October):

27% visit several times per week, 13% several times per month, 7%once per month, 17% several times in summer, 8% once per summer

28% never visit park

57% visit in winter too

Mostly in evening (57%)

49% ranked as good to excellent

50% or more want to see:

Paths & gardens (85%)

Quiet, shaded areas (81%)

Picnic tables (59%)

Green open space 86%)

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2011 Survey Results Open ended responses:

“Leave it the way it is” “Keep it a walkers park” “Please do not “improve” this park”

“Open areas great for multiuse recreation”

“Keep open space for kids activities”

“More trees around perimeter” “The perimeter looks bare, more trees needed in islands or pockets on

Romeo/Inglewood” “Looks bare…needs something around the perimeter”

“ Plant wildflowers/perennials” “A few more benches too” “Establish a “Friends of Howlett Park” group to oversee park

coordinate volunteer activities and communicate with City Staff”

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2011 Survey Results Open ended responses related to the pond:

ACCESS

“Keep overgrowth tame around pond”

“How about a wood chip path around the pond, a few more outlooks over pond”

“Make paths accessible to pond”

“Area around retention pond could be improved. Would be nice to have more

areas to stand” “Improve access to water feature, including rehab of deck and establishment of

wood chips around the wetland”

“Clear a small area by the pond and add benches and picnic tables”

“We love walking around the pond, a picnic table would be nice”

“I would like to see access to the pond improved…a great area to study naturebut almost too natural….. by July the weeds are so high that access is limited to1 or 2 spots”

Gardens would be nice, soften the open green space and add something to lookat”

ECOLOGY

“Survey the existing bird, fish, amphibian, mammal population, and waterquality. Find ways to enhance habitat to support wildlife”

“Stock the pond with game fish”

“Native plants with placards to identify them” “Landscaping with more native plants”

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2011 Survey Results Open ended responses related to the pond:

“Enhanced viewing area of the pond”

“Nature Path around the pond”

“Open the area around the pond so [police can see into the pond area.The water feature of the park should be open and enjoyed by visitorsand passersby”

“Stock the pond with fish”

“Make the pond larger and deeper with a sustainable ecosystem withfish, frogs, turtles etc. Make anature trail around the pond. Areaaround pond is very soggy making access hard”

“I never realized there was a pond there until last summer…my kidsand I would visit more if it were easier to get to the pond”

“clean up the water area and have a haven for the birds and animalsto rest”

“Clean up the water so birds and ducks have a quiet place to live”

“ How about a few more outlooks over the pond”

“Keep the water clean.... no scum”

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2011 Survey Results Open ended responses (structures and facilities):

Paths (passive, walking/jogging. Snowshoing, X-C ski) Picnic tables Benches Interpretive Signage City of Rochester signage

Trash Bins Playground Warming Hut Bathroom Parking Grills Disc Golf baskets Tennis Courts ADA accessibility “Please no ball parks, play grounds, picnic areas or parking areas” “Do something with it; right now it’s just vacant land with a dock”

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History of Park 2008

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History of Park Surface Geology

End Moraine Outwash

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Howlett Park: 20,000 Years Ago

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Surface Geology

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End Moraine

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Outwash

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History of Park:

Presettlement Vegetation

Black Oak

Barren

Mixed Oak Forest Mixed Hardwood

Swamp

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Topography: Very Diverse!

Kettle

Kame

Low,Wet Area

Steep Ridges,Slopes

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Oak Barren http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/communities/community.cfm?id=10693 •Found on droughty soils formedfrom glacial outwash or sandymoraines•Fire dependent•5-60% canopy

•Contain a mix of prairie and forestcommunity species

TreesBlack OakWhite OakBurr Oak

Red MapleBlack CherryBig-Tooth AspenScarlet OakNorthern Pin OakHickoryDogwoodBlack CherrySassafras

Sub-CanopyBearberryNew Jersey TeaAmerican Hazelnut

WintergreenHuckleberryChoke CherrySand CherryDwarf Chinquapin OakShining SumacBlueberry

Ground LayerLittle BluestemBig BluestemPennsylvania SedgeHeart Leaved AsterFalse foxgloveTickseedGoats-RuePorcupine GrassDwarf Blazing StarWood BetonyWhite PeaFalse Dandeliion

NoteworthyAnimalsButterfliesSkippersGrasshopper

sLocusts

Invasive PlantsSpotted KnapweedCommon St. John’sWort

http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/communities/community.cfm?id=10693


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Mixed Oak Forest


•Found on droughty soils formedfrom glacial outwash, coarse-textured moraines, kettle-kametopography•Fire dependent

•90% closed canopy•Contain forest community species

TreesBlack OakWhite Oak

Red OakScarlet OakNorthern PinOakRed MapleBlack CherryPignutHickoryShagbark

HickoryBlack Cherry

Sub-CanopyIronwoodAlternate-

LeavedDogwoodFloweringDogwoodCherriesServiceBerriesWitch HazelChoke Cherry

GroundLayerDoll’s Eyes Hog PeanutJack-in-the-PulpitWhite BearSedgeEnchanter’sNightshadeSpottedCoral-Root

Tick-trefoilBlackSnakeroot

NoteworthyAnimalsEastern BoxTurtle

Blanding’sTurtleCooper’sHawkCeruleanWarblerEasternMassasauga

Invasive PlantsOriental Bittersweed



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Southern Wet Meadow (sedge meadow)


•Found in depressions in glacialoutwash and moraines, alongmargins of lakes, ponds and streams•Flood-dependent•Groundwater-fed

•Open canopy•Contain a mix of wet prairie species

Grasses & SedgesTussock sedge

Carex spp.Bluejoint grassFringed BromeGrassFowl manna grassMarsh wildTimothyLeafy satin grass

NoteworthyAnimalsMuskratSandhill CraneMarsh WrensCanada geeseBeavers

Invasive PlantsReed CanaryGrassPhragmites

Narrow-leavedcattailGlossy buckthornMultiflora Rose

ForbsSwamp MilkweedSwamp Aster

Marsh BellflowerSwamp ThistleBonesetJoe-Pye WeedWater HemlockMarsh-PeaMountain MintGreat Water DockSwamp Goldenrod

Purple Meadow Rue

FernsSensitive FernMarsh Fern



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Submergent Marsh http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/communities/community.cfm?id=10651

•Found in small, shallow lakes andponds in depression on outwash andmoraine•Contain submergent and emergentaquatic species

•Tolerate natural water-levelfluctuations

Aquatic VegetationMilfoils

PondweedsWater CrowfootWater CeleryWater LilyPond LilyDuckweedGreat Duckweed

NoteworthyAnimalsFishAmphibiansReptilesWaterfowlWater birdsWaterbirdsMuskratBeaver

Invasive PlantsEurasian water-milfoilHydrilla



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Topography: Very Diverse!

Kettle

Kame

Low,Wet Area

Steep Ridges,Slopes

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Park Habitats: Also Very Diverse!

SubmergentMarsh

Wet Meadow

Pond Margin

Wet MeadowSwale

OakBarren/Mixed Oak Forest

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SubmergentMarsh

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SubmergentMarsh

Wet Meadow

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SubmergentMarsh

Wet Meadow

Mixed Oak Forest

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SubmergentMarsh

Wet Meadow

Mixed Oak Forest

Oak Barren

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Stormwater Issues

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Stormwater Issues

26.5 acres of =23.2 cfs

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Stormwater Issues


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Stormwater Issues


44.57 acres= 52.39 cfs

New Outlet to Paint Creek 782.10

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Stormwater Issues

Drainage volume has increased by a factor of 3.25

Stormwater Runoff Water Quality

NutrientsOilsGreasesRoad Salts

HabitatFluctuationHigh Oxygen DemandSediments

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Park Planning/Management Issues

Multi-Use Open Space

Paths

Access to Howlett Pond

Ecosystem Restoration Howlett Pond

Watershed Management

Vegetation Management/ Restoration Invasives

Wet Meadow

Upland Oak Barrens/Forest

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Multi-Use Open Space

Children’s Soccer

Sledding Hill

Catch Area

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Paths

ADA Path

ADA Path

FootbridgeUnofficial Pathways

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Access to Howlett Pond

Access Points w/Picnic Tables/Overlooks

Ecosystem Restoration:

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Howlett Pond

Wildlife• Fish• Herpetiles (Amphibians)• Waterfowl• Nesting Birds

• Mammals & Insects

Vegetation• Aquatic Vegetation• Riparian Vegetation• Invasives

Recommendations:

1. Assess fish & amphibianpopulation (professional)

2. Assess other wildlife(volunteers)

3. Identify gaps & targets

4. Develop habitat improvement

plan

5. Implement with volunteers


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Watershed ManagementRecommendations:

1. Neighborhood OutreachCampaign (flier/Website)

2. Interpretive Signage at HowlettPond

3. Storm Drain Stenciling

4. Partner with CRWC


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Vegetation Management-InvasivesWoody Species:Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)Autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)Eurasian honeysuckles (Lonicera species)Asian bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)Multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora)

Wetland Species (I’m fairly certain I saw these, yet anothervisit needed for positive id):

Reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)Common reed (Phragmites australis)

Species of Less Concern:Gray dogwood (Cornus foemina) – can create aggressiveclonesShrubby willows (Salix species)Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii )Raspberry/blackberry (Rubus species)

Wintercreeper (Euonymus fortunei )Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)Wild grape (Vitis species)Queen Anne’s lace/wild carrot (Daucus carota)Goldenrods (Solidago species)Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)Mullein (Verbascum species)Curly dock (Rumex crispus)

-Sue Greenlee, Dinosaur Hill Volunteer

E t R t ti

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Ecosystem Restoration: Vegetation Management-Native Restoration

Recommendations:

1. Use presettlement vegetation types asguide/palette

2. Begin with wet meadow restoration;

establish no-mow boundary and plant withnative plugs

3. Supplement mixed forest with additionaltree species and appropriateunderstory/ground flora species

4. Start small regarding prairie/oak barrenplantings in small “no-mow areas” to avoidunsightly weed growth

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Next Steps

1. Establish “Friends of Howlett Park” toengage volunteers

2. Conduct Spring & Fall “Bio Blitz “Events inpartnership with Six Rivers Regional Land

Conservancy

3. Professional pond and fish/herpetileassessment

4. 2011: Wet Meadow VegetationEnhancement

5. Work with SRRLC/Dinosaur Hills to drafthabitat management plans

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Howlett Park

Children’s Soccer

Sledding Hill

Catch Area

ADA Path

ADA Path

Footbridge

Access Points w/

Picnic Tables/Overlooks

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Documents