Parks and Recreation System Master Plan Update (2016) parks_and_recreation_system_master_plan_update_oct | Page 555

2. Sustainability
Metro Parks and Recreation is also interested in becoming a more sustainable steward of
public land in Jefferson County. To that end, a few sustainability proposals have been discussed
that are relevant to natural resource management. It makes both fiscal and environmental sense
for Metro Parks and Recreation to switch to an in-house use of natural resource products, like
leaf litter, wood chips, and mulch. Additionally, initiating a carbon accounting research project
(both vegetation and soil carbon) would provide Metro Parks and Recreation with the
information to sell carbon stocks on the Chicago Carbon Exchange (CCX).
3. Policy recommendations
Policy changes that would enhance the management of natural resource parks and
fragments in the future draw upon the existing recommendations of this document. In order to
put this plan into practice, it is recommended for Metro Parks and Recreation to form a Natural
Resource Committee. This committee would be in charge of instituting many of the suggested
natural resource management practices, such as the invasive species volunteer and environmental
education programs. The Natural Resource Committee could also develop the pesticides
application policy and associated Weed Handbook. To facilitate much of the committee's work,
Metro Parks and Recreation might find the creation of a Natural Resources Planner position as a
necessary and beneficial addition to the agency. The Natural Resources Planner could be a self-
funded position that seeks grant and other outside funding for natural resource projects as wells
as administering natural resource assessments and policy changes.
Acting as a subcommittee to the Natural Resource Committee, a Native Plants
subcommittee would work in conjunction with other public agencies, utility companies,
University of Louisville and University of Kentucky researchers, and local greenhouses and
environmental groups to promote native plants in Metro Parks and Recreation properties. It is
important for native plants to become the standard vegetative cover in all restoration/construction
projects in all Metro Parks and Recreation properties while also prohibiting the planting of
invasive species. The Native Plants subcommittee would bring together partners interested in
developing the planting capacity of native plants and relationships with local growers and
greenhouses to grow native plant species. The likely outcome of this subcommittee would be the
decrease of intentional invasive species introduction and giving removal campaigns a fighting
chance.
4. Potential funding sources
Metro Parks and Recreation may need to compete for outside funds in order to implement
many of the natural resource management goals laid out in this document. The following is a
table of potential sources of funding both within Jefferson County, the Commonwealth of
Kentucky, and the U.S. It may also be beneficial for Metro Parks and Recreation to join the
Community of Science (http://www.cos.com) via a partnership with the University of Kentucky
or the University of Louisville. In addition, Metro Parks and Recreation can seek funding
through corporate sources as well.
Funding Source
Jefferson County
Public Schools
Website
http://www.jefferson.k12.ky.us/
Program Areas
Environmental
Education
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