Collect native prairie seed at Heritage Village Park [FULL]

This event has reached capacity and registrations are no longer being accepted. Please visit the events calendar for more ways to get involved.

--

Located just 15 minutes south of downtown St. Paul in Inver Grove Heights, Heritage Village Park is a 50-acre site along the banks of the Mississippi River. Now owned by the City of Inver Grove Heights, the site was a former rail yard until the mid-1980s. In 2004, a master plan for the site was prepared that would transform the site from a contaminated waste site, locally used for dumping trash, into a community amenity featuring recreational, cultural, and natural attractions, including abundant natural areas, playgrounds a bike path and more.

In 2005, FMR wrote a natural resource management plan to help guide restoration of the park. Today, the park has over 30 acres of restored, native prairie, as well as areas of floodplain forest along the Mississippi River. FMR will continue to partner with the city of Inver Grove Heights at the site. Long-term restoration will include removal of invasive shrubs in the floodplain forest, as well as the addition of native bur oak trees to the prairie area. This work will help to return the site to oak savanna, its historic natural community. Oak savanna is one of Minnesota's most imperiled habitats, occurring one one-tenth of one percent of its historic coverage. 

Volunteers will work along side FMR staff to collect much-needed native prairie grass seed. This native grass seed will be redistributed throughout the park and neighboring Rock Island Swing Bridge Park.  All are welcome however, space is limited. No experience is needed, all tools, gloves and training will be provided. Volunteers may also be asked to participate in other restoration tasks that are needed to help improve this site.

Ready to register?

This event has reached capacity and registrations are no longer being accepted. Please visit the events calendar for more ways to get involved.

Can't make it?

• To receive notices of all FMR events, sign up for our twice-a-month e-newsletter, Mississippi Messages 
• To be notified of future events at this particular location, contact FMR Volunteer Coordinator Amy Kilgore at akilgore@fmr.org or by selecting Amy by name under "Category" via the FMR contact form 
• •Check out additional volunteer opportunities on the FMR calendar.