ODC brings down invasives at Wolters Woods

Township, Outdoor Discovery Center partner for improvements.

Ben Heerspink, front, land stewardship manager for the Outdoor Discovery Center, and Will Hofmann, conservation technician, show the damage Asian bittersweet does to trees while clearing the invasive at Wolters Woods Park, 6281 147th Ave., on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.

The gates of Wolters Woods Park were closed for parking lot resurfacing on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, but that didn’t mean the park was all quiet.

Ben Heerspink, land stewardship manager for the Outdoor Discovery Center, and Will Hofmann, conservation technician for the group, were busy pulling down and cutting Asian bittersweet, an invasive vine that smothers and kills trees.

Ben Heerspink, land stewardship manager for the Outdoor Discovery Center, cuts down invasive Asian bittersweet at Wolters Woods Park, 6281 147th Ave., on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.

The chopping followed an earlier spraying to destroy the plant as part of a partnership between Laketown Township and the Outdoor Discovery Center.

“Looks like hard work,” a passer-by on the multi-use path said as the pair cut through the dense greenery.

The workers agreed as they continued trimming.

Ben Heerspink, land stewardship manager for the Outdoor Discovery Center, and Will Hofmann, conservation technician, trim invasive Asian bittersweet at Wolters Woods Park, 6281 147th Ave., on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, while a person walks their dog on the nearby multi-use path.
Will Hofmann, conservation technician with the Outdoor Discovery Center, and Ben Heerspink, land stewardship manager, clear the invasive Asian bittersweet at Wolters Woods Park, 6281 147th Ave., on Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024.

The Outdoor Discovery Center invasive species management plan includes:

Laketown Township Office, 4338 Beeline Road: Poison hemlock, phragmites, Asian bittersweet, common teasel and purple loosestrife and autumn olive control.

Wolters Woods Park, 6281 147th Ave.: Asian bittersweet, honeysuckle, autumn olive and glossy buckthorn control.

Huyser Farm Park, 4188 64th St.: Japanese knotweed, Asian bittersweet and autumn olive control.

Laketown Beach, 6710 142nd Ave.: Asian bittersweet control.

Shore Acres/Felt Estate, 6597 138th Ave.: Japanese knotweed control.

Sanctuary Woods Park, 4750 66th St.: Asian bittersweet control.

Farview Park, 6257 138th Ave.: Asian bittersweet control.

Alpha Nurseries, 3737 65th St., has been donating time, staff and equipment to treat autumn olive at Farview Park.

Crews from Stripe A Lot Asphalt Maintenance LLC seal pavement at Sanctuary Woods Park, 4750 66th St., on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024. The lot will also be restriped. Wolters Woods Park will also be sealed and striped.

Parking lot updates

The parking lots at Wolters Woods and Sanctuary Woods Park were closed Tuesday and Wednesday for resealing and repainting. They will be open again Thursday, Aug. 22.

The parking lot at the township hall will be resealed and repainted Sept. 20-21. The lot will be closed during the work.

Stripe A Lot Asphalt Maintenance LLC is handling the parking lot work.