NEBRASKA CITY – City commissioners gave their consent Monday to Friends of the Riverview Nature Park plans for trail upgrades and battling back invasive tree species with grant applications to the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and Nemaha Natural Resources District.

Matt Graham, a nature park board member, said two grant applications will be submitted this spring for three phases of park improvements.

 

The first phase includes an application for an NRD grant to upgrade the trails. The second phase includes removing invasive tree species - the tree of heaven and the amur honeysuckle.

Graham: “They are invasive in that they are not native and they choke out some of the more beneficial and habitat forming plants that we have down there, such as the oaks and walnuts.”

 

The tree of heaven is a fast-growing, tall tree that will quickly outcompete native species for valuable sunlight in the tree canopy. The species also secretes a substance from its roots that is toxic to neighboring trees.

State foresters say action should be taken soon to prevent the species from spreading along South and North Table creeks and other wooded locations.

Graham said Friends of Riverview Nature Park will work with the Nebraska Forest Service in its mission.

Graham: “They see this as a little bit bigger than the city of Nebraska City in that the entire Missouri valley has an issue with this tree of heaven. They want to help us and see this project go through, so they can kind of use us as a bit of a pilot study.”

Phase 2 includes replanting trees as invasive trees are removed and phase 3 involves maintenance of the forest.

 Tree of heaven is an invasive species that will dominate the urban tree canopy if not controlled

Graham: “We recognize the city does not have the ability or interest given the resource constraints to put a lot of funding into this park. Our whole thing is that it should be a nature park. That’s the mission of our group.”

Parks Director Nick Schmitz said the Friends of Riverview Nature Park approached Parks Commissioner Patrick Wehling and himself about plans and ideas for the park.

Schmitz: “From the parks standpoint, the transparency has been good with us. We have no issues with their intentions.”

Graham: “This is really a gem in the crown for a true nature park where folks can get away and view many species of birds and wildlife.”

The group plans to apply for a Nebraska Statewide Arboretum grant.