Chinese Privet Removal Initiative

Privet removal activities scheduled to begin at Villages of Carmel Park the week of Feb. 12 have been postponed until the following week, due to high winds. Again, the exact dates and times for removal will depend on the weather, but Parks staff anticipate privet removal will take place on Tuesday or Wednesday (Feb. 20 and 21). The goal of performing targeted removal of privet is to promote long-term solutions to eliminate this plant and restore the characteristics and functions of the open space and habitat. City staff created a Standard Operating Procedure that focuses on pre-activity inspection, removal strategies, public education and involvement, restoration planning, and follow-up activities.

Privet removal activities will begin at Bowling Green Park and the Spencer Open Space beginning Dec. 4, weather dependent. The goal of performing targeted removal of privet is to promote long-term solutions to eliminate this plant and restore the characteristics and functions of the open space and habitat. City Staff created a Standard Operating Procedure that focuses on pre-activity inspection, removal strategies, public education and involvement, restoration planning, and follow-up activities.

Due to rain over the weekend, the conditions on site are not adequate to begin work. Hence, staff was not able to start today, December 12.

• Bowling Green Park (forested area located on the eastern side of the channel) starting on TBD.
• Spencer Road (across from the DME Offices) starting on TBD.

Starting in December of 2022, the Parks and Recreation and Environmental Services and Sustainability departments will recommence the efforts to restore native habitat conditions. The privet control process will be conducted at:

• Bowling Green Park (forested area located on the eastern side of the channel) starting on December 12;
• Spencer Road (across from the DME Offices) starting on December 14.

Privet control will consist of cutting the privet shrubs and treating the stump with an IPM approved herbicide. Future control treatments will be performed in the same method by targeting emergent shrubs and privet seedlings located within the forested area.

Ultimately, following the removal activities, PARD will assist in helping to restore the forest understory and improve habitat conditions by possibly applying a native seed mix site-wide and planting various seedlings and native shrubs. This effort to control the Chinese privet may take two to three years, given the current density of the privet.

A natural forest is located on six acres along the eastern side of the channel at Bowling Green Park. Over the last several years Chinese Privet has progressively invaded the space, outcompeting and replacing the native species that typically occupy natural areas in Denton. Removing the current privet stand and restoring native habitat conditions is expected to improve long-term viability of current trees, allow natural regeneration of native trees, and improve the overall park environment.

In April 2022 the Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) addressed an immediate safety concern by removing a mass of Chinese Privet across nearly 5-acres, shown in yellow.

For successful removal and restoration of habitat functions, PARD will continue the privet eradication in the fall of 2022 by cutting out the remaining privet shrubs and targeting emergent shrubs and privet seedlings for the next two years. Following these activities PARD has a goal of at least 90% reduction of privet.

Following the removal activities, PARD will restore the forest understory and improve habitat conditions by applying a native seed mix site-wide and planting a variety of seedlings and native shrubs.

We look forward to updating you on this project as it progresses.