New Benches in the Park

Three benches will soon be installed next to the pathway just east of the Pierce Street entrance. The chalk lines were put down to indicate where the benches will go. Concrete pads must be laid before the benches are installed. Friends of Duboce Park have been advocating for more benches for years and it is nice to see it finally happening.

Foxtail Invasion

After a neighbor reported an invasion of foxtails in Duboce Park, Michelle Pallavicini, Park Services Manager, responded with, “Please, absolutely do not spray anything along your property line in the park. The City is under very restrictive IPM regulations. Even vinegar is a no-go for us.”

“Foxtails are everywhere in the city right now; it is that time of year. And it did not help with the last late-season rain that brought on a resurgence. Mulching will not work. And we do not have the staffing resources to put in the hours it would take to pull it all out from the roots. The seed bank in the soil is extensive, and there really is no way to safely eradicate it. DPW and RPD can only mow it down. We are aware of the issues this “pest” can cause and try to address it in a timely manner.”

“A reminder, we have 25 sites to cover in my area of operations. We have a lot of ground to cover, and my staffing resources continue to dwindle. Our new gardener, Lucas, He has been thoroughly instructed on the maintenance needs of Duboce Park by both his supervisor, Shawn Hill, and by the previous gardener, Mark. He will cover the site as best he can, but note that he is not there all the time, as he is required to assist with maintenance at other sites in the Mission gardening complex.”

Please report any maintenance issues in the park on the 311 app. Photos can be included.