The Duncan-Castro is a .5 acre park which has been designated
in its entirety as a “natural area”. This park is almost entirely
grasslands. There are no State or Federally listed threatened or endangered species here which mandate protection.
The question must be asked as to why this is a “natural
area”. The only vegetation type with a significant native species component
is .05 acres of red fescue prarie. Clearly, this is NOT a “natural area”. NAP intends to create a “natural area” here. To do so, they will:
- Augment “sensitive” plant population (these are not plants that are protected by law; they are plants local
native plant advocates have arbitrarily designated as “sensitive”).
- Allow access on designated trails only
- Reintroduce “sensitive” species of plants
- Destroy non-native plants and shrubs at NAP discretion.
- Reduce “predation pressure”. This would refer to the killing of feral cats and any other wildlife NAP deems unacceptable.
- Destroy the ornamental planting along Duncan Street to replace it with a native plant
garden.
NAP
has refused to disclose the cost to create this habitat. Are these funds that
could better be spent elsewhere in the park system? Will there be the manpower
and funds to maintain this new habitat? Will it be sustainable?
