City failing to tend to Dakota Nature Park

The city of Brookings Dakota Nature Park contains undesirable invasive species of Siberian/Chinese Elm and cedar in the shelter belts bordering the park on the north, south and east.

These trees were likely planted years ago by the city to provide vision borders for what was then the dump, not to be border plantings for a park.

The seeds from the undesirable trees have spread throughout the park and have taken root in the open spaces and meadows of the park.

These open spaces and meadows are being occupied by these trees.

The appearance of the park has deteriorated, and the city has failed to deal with the problem by regularly maintaining the open spaces and meadows and thereby eliminating the volunteer seedlings in the park.

This failure originates from the City Manager Paul Briseno’s directive years ago to reduce mowing and maintenance of areas of the city’s parks deemed non-essential and thereby save money.

Countless communications about the problem have been to the Parks Board, Parks Directors, City Manager, and City Council for years. No meaningful action by the city has resulted!

Equipment — in the form of a high-speed vertical rotary mower — was donated to the city to address the problem of removing the invasive species seedlings. The equipment was rarely used by the city.

When the rotary mower was infrequently utilized, the areas previously cleared of the invasive trees were allowed to grow back. No follow-up by the city.

How bad is the failure to maintain?

On the north bank of the north lake at the Park, there is a gazebo which was intended to be utilized for a southerly view of the north lake and its surroundings. Thanks to the Briseno no-mow policy the view is being obstructed by the volunteer trees.

Another example of the City of Brookings failing to properly maintain a Park Department property is the Brookings Prairie. There is a sign so designating this property and the property is located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Western Avenue and Brookings County Highway 12. This property is a cooperative effort involving the federal, state and city of Brooking governments. Since the property is entitled Brookings Prairie, one can assume the property is to remain prairie. The Brookings Prairie is being overtaken with volunteer invasive trees of some species, and a dreaded cedar tree has now appeared.

Despite repeated communications to the city, no meaningful action has been taken to maintain the property as wild prairie.

A properly maintained park and prairie will not adversely impact birds and other wildlife as there is sufficient habitat at the park and the prairie for their habitat and support.

The City routinely contends it has more park ground per capita than similar communities and therefore is unable to properly maintain all the parks. The city created, accepted and undertook the parks, and in some cases encouraged private donations for improvements at the parks. What happened to the adage, “you touch it, you own it”?

City sales tax revenues have increased. The city has actually cut its tax levy on real property from 2018 to 2025. Why is the city reducing levies when it is claiming revenues are not sufficient to properly maintain park properties? Why is the city undertaking new park projects like the Splash Pad and Fifth Street Gym while failing to maintain existing park properties?

The city has funds for a new fire station, a new police station and other large purchases, but no money for proper maintenance of the park?

That’s shallow policy and management.

The Park Department needs new management and direction. My recommendation to the city is no salary increases for a Parks Director and City Manager, and their respective assistants, until the above-described failings have been satisfactorily addressed.

The city should also explore separating the Parks Department from city government — as several cities in North Dakota successfully operate with this structure; namely Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks.

My recommendation to Brookings citizens is to make your views known to the Mayor, City Manager and council members on the need for these failings to be corrected promptly.