WARSON SAVANNA GRANT PROJECT
BACKGROUND
The Horticultural Department applied for, and was awarded, a grant from The Missouri Prairie Foundation in the winter of 2025 to purchase seed and plants for a long-term savanna restoration project in the northeast section of Warson Park. This area borders a woodchip nature trail (The Sassafras Trail) running through a woodland corridor with established, mature trees, shrubs and wildflowers. This area has been intensely managed and restored by park staff over the last four years and is ripe for expansion.
Our 2018 Park Master Plan makes it a priority to reduce mowed turf areas, thereby decreasing storm water run-off and increasing plant and animal diversity. This project will expand the woodland corridor into approximately 8000 square feet of the surrounding turf, creating a mesic savanna edge to the woodlands that will result in a sizeable reduction of turf acreage requiring mowing. We selected a mesic savanna as the target habitat due to its location in the historic floodplain of the River Des Peres and the relative rarity of remnant savannas in Missouri. The actual site receives a fair amount of runoff and is often wet compared to other sites.
We see our savanna project as offering an attractive amenity to a growing number of park-goers and providing an educational asset for park-based educational and community programs.
The Horticultural Department applied for, and was awarded, a grant from The Missouri Prairie Foundation in the winter of 2025 to purchase seed and plants for a long-term savanna restoration project in the northeast section of Warson Park. This area borders a woodchip nature trail (The Sassafras Trail) running through a woodland corridor with established, mature trees, shrubs and wildflowers. This area has been intensely managed and restored by park staff over the last four years and is ripe for expansion.
Our 2018 Park Master Plan makes it a priority to reduce mowed turf areas, thereby decreasing storm water run-off and increasing plant and animal diversity. This project will expand the woodland corridor into approximately 8000 square feet of the surrounding turf, creating a mesic savanna edge to the woodlands that will result in a sizeable reduction of turf acreage requiring mowing. We selected a mesic savanna as the target habitat due to its location in the historic floodplain of the River Des Peres and the relative rarity of remnant savannas in Missouri. The actual site receives a fair amount of runoff and is often wet compared to other sites.
We see our savanna project as offering an attractive amenity to a growing number of park-goers and providing an educational asset for park-based educational and community programs.
TIMELINE
March 2025
March 2025
- Meet with Planting Shade students from Ladue Horton-Watkins High School for a site visit and final project planning
- Order trees
- Flag savanna perimeter and communicate with mowing contractors
- Plant trees with Planting Shade students
- Mulch trees and water trees
- Install deer protection caging with Planting Shade students
- Continue tree watering
- Begin and complete site preparation for the removal of remaining turf area
- Procure Seed from Pure Air Natives
- Finalize site preparation
- Sow seed by hand with Planting Shade students
- Water trees as needed
- Periodically cut to control weed competition
- Hand weed and/or spot-spray periodically for invasive perennial plants
- Monitor species diversity and habitat quality
- Evaluate success of seeding and overall tree health and identify needed adjustments
- Conduct our first public walking tour of the savanna
- Perform follow up maintenance work
- Commence quarterly walking tours for the public and school groups
|
Olivette Parks & Recreation Creating community through people, parks & programs! T:314.991.1249
1200 N. Warson Rd. Olivette, MO 63132 |