3 Fall 2023 Community Update Newsletter

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OPEN SPACE Coyote Run Trail resurfaced Over the summer, Coyote Run Trail received a much - needed resurfacing to address wear caused by heavy use and erosion. The primary objective was to create a safe and sustainable surface, achieved through reshaping and compacting the trail surfaces to enable proper drainage. This comprehensive restoration project included restoration of all multi -modal trails in Coyote Run, installation of multiple drainage and erosion control features to prevent trail damage from water run- off, fresh crusher fines surfacing and regrading for all segments, upgrade of trail segment near W. Lafayette to prevent standing water and improve year-round use, and restoration and application of native grass seed. Joe Carnival and Meadows Park renovations The City maintains 37 parks and 16 playgrounds, many of which were constructed 20-25 years ago. In 2018, the City began renovations to modernize aging playgrounds and ensure compliance with current ADA standards. Heritage Park was the first to be revamped in 2018, followed by Keith Helart and Elephant Park in 2020 and Cottonwood Park in 2021. Joe Carnival and Meadows Park will be the next parks to undergo renovation, followed by Enclave and Sunflower. Public input and park designs are in progress, with construction expected in Spring 2024. More park renovations are planned in coming years pending City Council approval and available budget. For more information, and to find ways to get involved, visit LouisvilleCO.gov/Projects. Regenerative grazing returning this fall Did you get to see the goats and cattle grazing in Louisville this spring? Well, they're coming back! As part of the recovery process following the Marshall Fire, the City's Open Space Division is implementing regenerative grazing practices on select properties during the spring and fall of 2023. A herd of 40 cattle on Davidson Mesa Open Space and 700 goats on North Open Space did a great job munching their way through vegetation and we can't wait to have them return this fall. Grazing is an effective way to manage vegetation and reduce the presence of invasive plant species that can contribute to wildfires. It can also help reduce fuel loads, which are the amount of dead and dry vegetation that can quickly ignite during a wildfire and it can improve soil health and overall ecosystem function. To learn more about grazing practices, please visit LouisvilleCO. gov/Grazing. PARKS Fall pollinator planting resources for homeowners As a proud National Bee City USA program member, Louisville has demonstrated its strong commitment to protecting pollinators and their natural habitats though initiatives including reducing herbicide use, establishing pocket prairies with pollinator -friendly plantings, and partnering with Resource Central to offer programs like Garden in a Box. The City has also taken steps to increase the presence of native plants on public lands, such as the pocket prairies on Dutch Creek. The City encourages homeowners to create pollinator - friendly yards, which leads to lower water bills, reduces yard maintenance, attracts delightful songbirds, and creates a colorful, healthy, and natural landscape. Fall is an ideal time to plant as the warm soil and cooler temperatures provide perfect conditions for establishing new plants. Resources are available for those interested in creating pollinator -friendly yards and can be found at LouisvilleCO.gov/BeeCity. Remember to buy your supplies from a nursery that provides neonicitinoid- free plants so that harmful chemicals won't affect the pollinators you're welcoming to your yard. City of Louisville Median Project The City is finishing the first phase of a multi -year Median Landscape Renovation project, which aims to enhance landscape infrastructure, design aesthetics, and sustainability for medians along major roads in Louisville. The first phase focuses on medians impacted by the Marshall Fire or in close proximity to fire -damaged areas and includes the removal of ash trees susceptible to the Emerald Ash Borer epidemic. The project also includes the conversion of bluegrass turf to native grasses, introducing xeric and pollinator - friendly plantings, and diversification of tree species for long-term canopy health. Future budget allocations will determine the timeline for subsequent stages. Fun fact: by removing non-native turf from these medians, the City will save over a million gallons of water per year just in this first phase. Learn more at LouisvilleCO.gov. Louisville mowing practices Wondering how the beautiful green spaces in Louisville are maintained? Visit LouisvilleCO.gov/Mowing to learn about the City's approach. Information includes a map, the frequency, timing, and techniques staff uses when mowing the green grasses in our parks, sports fields, trail corridors, and open space perimeters. Fall 2023 • Page 13