Chicago Parks Limit Pesticide Use

By Anna Deem in News on May 9, 2010 5:45PM

The Chicago Park District is partnering up with the city Department of Environment and Safe Pest Control Project for the third year in a row to limit the use of pesticides throughout the district, according to a release that came out this week. In order to create safer and healthier parks, the release noted that weed-controlling chemicals are avoided about 90 percent of the time in Chicago parks. Therefore, the more dandelions one sees in a park, the safer the park is.

In order to stay environmentally conscious and still care for unnecessary weeds, the Chicago Park District mows the grass in its parks to keep the weeds away. "Residents can control weeds and get a naturally beautiful lawn without pesticides, which carry potential risks to human health and water quality," Rachel Rosenberg, Executive Director of Safer Pest Control Project, said to the Chicago Sun-Times. "A natural lawn will help reduce disease and pest problems safely, which can over time save time and money as an extra added benefit to your family."