Olmsted Parks Conservancy conducting controlled burn in Iroquois Park. What to know
If you live near Iroquois Park and see large plumes of smoke in the sky Thursday, don't panic: a controlled burn is being taking place to help maintain the area.
Olmsted Parks Conservancy will perform a prescribed burn of around 18 acres of the park for prairie management, according to a release from Louisville Parks and Recreation.
Due to the work, Summit Field at the top of Uppill Road will be closed until 4 p.m.
⚠️ Heads up, Iroquois Park is conducting a prescribed burn to the Summit Field area. The area will be closed to the public until 4 p.m.#loukyparks pic.twitter.com/1g52ikZx0W
— Louisville Parks and Recreation (@loukyparks) December 14, 2023
"Historically, the Summit Field area of Iroquois was known as Burnt Knob and had been maintained by fire,” Olmsted Parks Conservancy Project Manager Liz Winlock said. “In 1996, the original prairie habitat was restored with native plants and prescribed burns have been carried out every few years. The last prescribed burn was conducted in 2016.”
According to the release, there are several benefits of prescribed burns including "stimulating native grasses and forbs" and "improving habitat for native pollinators and birds."
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This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Controlled burn to take place at Iroquois Park on Thursday
