Mowing Reduction and Prairie Conversion in Crystal Lake Parks

Abstract

Mowing and managing grass is a necessary task for any land owner, specifically the Crystal Lake Park District. Mowing large amounts of grass can be costly financially and environmentally, so mowing with the most efficiency is extremely important. Reduction in mowing or prairie conversion are options that can assist in reducing the total amount of grass that needs to be mowed. Identifying mowed areas of grass for reduced mowing or prairie conversion can be done through the use of GIS (Geographic Information Systems), a tool used for mapping and spatial analysis. By determining the best potential locations to have a change in their mowing regime based on such factors as total population served, slope, elevation, and drive time distance from the mowing equipment storage, it is possible for the Crystal Lake Park District to make a beneficial adjustment to some of its park locations. The valuable changes that can come from mowing reduction or prairie conversion will ultimately save money and reduce negative environmental impact. This process is possible to be adopted and modeled by any type of local government entity and produce the same benefits as to the Crystal Lake Park District.