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Fireworks to Frogs: Warner Park’s fireworks island.

by Jim

Tim Nelson, chair of Wild Warner, read the following letter to the Madison Board of Park Commissioners on Nov. 13, 2013:

On behalf of Wild Warner I want to thank Kevin Briski of the parks department for removing the earthen berm in the Warner Park wetland. Over the past twenty years, sand and fill dirt had been trucked in and mounded up to make a hill that was used for shooting fireworks. The city and DNR determined that the berm should be removed and the area returned to its former level.

 

The island cleared and scraped to original 1970s level when it was created from lagoon dredging. (Jim Carrier)

The shooting island hill after the 2013 fireworks display. This soil was tested by state and federal regulators and found to be in violation of the Clean Water Act of 1972. (Jim Carrier)

We also thank Russ Hefty for allowing us to help sow native plant seed in the cleared area. It will be a great experience to see in the next few years how this piece of land grows into a small prairie.

Lately there have been two bald eagles perching in the trees that you see in the background of the  photos.

Jack Hurst scatters prairie seeds on the wetland island in Warner Park. Thanks to Wild Warner, the area, used as the "shooting island" for Rhythm & Booms fireworks, will become a wetland area for wildlife. For the story, and more photos, click here to see our blog.
Jack Hurst scatters prairie seeds on the wetland island in Warner Park. Thanks to Wild Warner, the area, used as the “shooting island” for Rhythm & Booms fireworks, will become a wetland area for wildlife. For the story, and more photos, click here to see our blog.

Best Regards,
Tim Nelson, Wild Warner