Health & Fitness
MVF Agenda: Goose droppings in South Valley Park
Not only is it unsightly, it is unsanitary. Imagine being tackled on a field that is smeared with goose feces.
The Montgomery Village Foundation's board of directors meeting for Aug. 25 will discuss the issue of goose droppings at South Valley Park. What are your thoughts?
MEMORANDUM
TO: MVF Board of Directors
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FROM: Peggy Mark. CPRP, CMCA
Director of Recreation, Parks and Culture
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SUBJECT: Goose droppings in South Valley Park
Background:
Residents and guests participating in or attending activities in South Valley Park continued to find themselves dealing with goose feces on paths, on playing fields, in the playground and at the amphitheater. Staff has had to install fencing around the lawn theater seating area in an effort to reduce the amount of droppings on the grass intended for sitting during performances. MVSA sent the attached letter to MVF this spring asking that some measures be taken to remove the geese from the park as the amount of goosedroppings on the ballfields has become intolerable. Not only is it unsightly it is anunsanitary experience for players to field balls that are smeared with goose feces or to be tackled during a football game. South Valley Park is the only park with lighted ballfields.In discussing the issue with staff of Columbia Association staff was told of a new product on the market that moves the geese from an area with the use of small lights. The product “AwayWithGeese” uses small lights located in ponds or on facilities to disturb geese sleeping patterns causing them to move to other ponds. If the geese do not sleep in the South Valley Park ponds, they would not come to the area to feed on the grass on the ballfields, Lawn Theater or playground.
Six units would cost about $2,400 and the company guarantees that if our geeseproblem is not solved in 90 days or less they will refund our money. Since the goslings have already hatched and are mobile by this point in the year, the geese should move out pretty quickly.
Staff Recommendation:
It is recommended that information about this product be sent to Committee on the Environment to consider as an option to manage wildlife to allow for continued co-existence without negatively effecting facility use.
Executive Committee Recommendation:
Action Needed: Board approval to forward to appropriate MVF Committees and affected communities.
