The purpose of this plan is to establish procedures for ensuring the appropriate management of the parks in Wildwood Village.
The first park, approximately 21 acres at the corner of Windfall Way and Bar-X Road, has been equipped by the Homeowner’s Association with swings and a few other items of playground equipment. The park has several areas of large trees, and in numerous locations smaller trees are establishing footholds. A spring-fed stream meanders through the center of the park, and there is a small pond, partially on park property, at the western end of the park. This park is traditionally the site of the annual Association picnic.
The second park, approximately 48 acres at the southwestern extreme of the village, is primarily a grassland habitat. It is has not been equipped with any man-made equipment. A small pond is located on this park as well.
As stipulated in the covenants, “…all construction, landscape improvements, and alterations within the Property [shall] be complimentary to the natural surroundings…” (Article III, paragraph 4). Additionally, it has been traditional for the Board to encourage the use of the park areas for the grazing of horses. The guidance in these two statements tends to support a “minimal impact” management plan for the parks. Such a plan will support the important “edge” wildlife habitat where the forest, grasslands, and riparian ecosystems come together in the Windfall Way Park. The establishment of recreational trails to enhance the ability of all owners to enjoy the parks is encouraged.
The Colorado Noxious Weed Act of 1996 requires public and private landowners to take appropriate measures to control certain specified “noxious weeds.” In order to comply with this statute, it may be necessary to modify the natural surroundings in small areas of the park where noxious weeds may be located.
In order to provide for the maximum enjoyment of these park areas while complying with covenant requirements and state statutes, the following guidelines are established:
• The grazing of horses on park property is expressly encouraged by this plan. Persons grazing their horses should ensure their horses do not overgraze any area, which promotes the growth of weeds.
• The planting of small areas of trees is encouraged within the parks.
• The recreational area on the southeastern portion of the Windfall Way Park may be closely mowed at regular intervals. This mowing may include the relatively flat area that extends for about a hundred meters west of the playground equipment and north to the marshy region near the stream.
• Mowing in the rest of the parks should only be performed to eradicate “noxious weeds,” as defined by state statute, and then only in highly localized areas where the weeds are growing. Should these areas be mowed, those persons doing the mowing should be prepared to repeat the mowing at intervals sufficient to place sufficient stress on the weeds to cause them to reduce in number. It must be noted that for many noxious weeds, infrequent mowing may have the opposite effect than that intended; it may actually cause the strengthening of the root systems, resulting in spread of the weeds instead of their control.
• To preserve critical wildlife habitat, a 50-foot buffer zone shall be in place around the ponds and stream where no mowing will be allowed.
• Methods for weed control other than mowing (biological and very limited chemical controls, for example) are also encouraged.
• Any weed control in the parks should be coordinated verbally with the Chairperson of the Parks Committee, should such a committee exist, or with the President of the Homeowner’s Association Board of Directors. This coordination should include, as a minimum, the specific areas to be controlled, method of control, and timing of control efforts.
• The Chairperson of the Parks Committee (or President of the Board) shall have approval authority for any proposed weed control procedures.