Theory: My chosen site does not appear on any map as a park except Burlington Geographic. On Google Maps it is labeled as a ‘Urban Reserve,’ but I am unable to find anything else about it. The land seems to be just a scrap of land that has been forgotten by the city. I believe that we need to revalue this area and care for it. It has been left to its own devices and invasive species have sprung up everywhere. The ethics paradigm is closest to this situation. Is it right to let this land be taken over by invasive plants when saying we are allowing it to ‘regenerate’? However, the land has not been allowed to regenerate. The occasional lawn mower has kept the grass barely in check. From sitting and watching, I was seen regular walkers or runners travel the perimeter of the park before returning to the bike path. It seems to me that the best use of this land in a park with a walking path around it. If this is something that would interest the public then we should petition the city to take better care of the area.
Action: The number of invasive species — primarily buckthorn — shocked me. In order to keep this land healthy and natural, these plants should be removed before they are all that is left of the undergrowth. I believe that an organized group could go through the entire park and rid it of buckthorn in half a day. This would be a volunteer effort that would promote a healthy ecosystem and improve the aesthetics of the park. Another project for volunteers could be to plant perennial flowers and perhaps donated shrubs. The park would quickly become a nicer place to spend time, walk, or have a picnic. I asked some of the regular visitors to the park and they agrees that the upkeep of the park was not good. This could be a beautiful piece of land between Lake Champlain and the bike path if it was only shown some love and care.
