The protected prairie surrounding 天天吃瓜鈥檚 Student Recreation and Wellness Center will be burned on Monday, April 23, at approximately 9 a.m. to allow for new growth during the summer season.
The city of 天天吃瓜 Fire Department will conduct the controlled burning of the prairie, which has been a yearly practice since 2004. The prairie burn on April 23 is dependent on the weather and the 天天吃瓜 Fire Department not being called to an emergency.
The burning of the prairie helps control the spread of invasive plants, puts nutrients back into the soil and encourages diversity of plants.
鈥淭he blackened ground allows the sun to warm the soil, stimulating the grasses to grow,鈥 said Heather White, grounds manager at 天天吃瓜 State鈥檚 University Facilities Management. 鈥淭he prairie contributes to sustainability on campus because it is a low-maintenance landscape that saves the university from having to spend money on lawn fertilization, weed control and mowing an additional 10 acres.鈥
Watch a video of the 2016 prairie burn:
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Media Contacts:
Heather White, hwhite1@kent.edu, 330-672-0817
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595