This March, The City of Decatur and Bee City USA-Decatur, GA (a.k.a. Beecatur) invites Decaturites to join residents of other cities nationwide in taking a month off from mowing to help feed pollinators. With roots in Great Britain, the initiative — originally called “No Mow May” — was launched in the U.S. in 2020 by the Bee City USA affiliate in Appleton, WI. It received widespread media attention in 2022 and many wondered if the program would eventually come to Decatur.
“Allowing flowering spring lawn plants like dandelions, violets, dead nettle, hen bit and others to grow unchecked for a month provides vital forage for pollinating insects at a time when food is otherwise in short supply,” says Peter Helfrich, chair of Decatur’s Bee City USA committee. “In Decatur, our spring pollinators begin to emerge in late February or early March, depending on the weather. Not mowing in May would do little to support them.”
But by choosing to forgo mowing during March, Decatur residents can help sustain honey bees, mason bees, mining bees, bumble bees, and other early spring pollinator species.
To let their neighbors know and to help spread the word, residents participating in No Mow March can pick up a FREE yard sign at the City of Decatur Public Works building (2635 Talley Street). There is a limited supply of 100 free signs so once those are gone you may print your own sign. Please email Kay.Evanovich@decaturga.com for pdf of the sign.
Observing No Mow March is a great start to helping pollinators in Decatur. To take the next step, Helfrich suggests adding native plants to your landscaping, and reducing or eliminating insecticide and herbicide use.
The Decatur Parks and Recreation Master Plan, known as Recreatur, is in its final planning phases. Learn about the research and findings, review the proposed plan recommendations, and provide your feedback for the future parks and recreation in Decatur. Visit recreatur.konveio.com to add your input!
Thanks to everyone who was able to make it out on Saturday for our Grand Opening! The Oakhurst Recreation Center is now officially open! Our current hours are Tuesday and Thursday from 9am-6pm.
Our hours will expand as we begin to get more programs and activities in the building.
Join us this Saturday, August 27, at 11am for the grand opening of Oakhurst Recreation Center. We will have a ribbon cutting to celebrate the work accomplished then tour the facility. The fun does not stop there! Beginning at noon, there will be various exercise classes including Dance Aerobics, Yoga, and more. Be sure to provide your input for Recreatur: Decatur’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan. See you all there!
Join us this Saturday, August 27, at 11am for the grand opening of Oakhurst Recreation Center. We will have a ribbon cutting to celebrate the work accomplished then tour the facility. The fun does not stop there! Beginning at noon, there will be various exercise classes including Dance Aerobics, Yoga, and more. Be sure to provide your input for Recreatur: Decatur’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan. See you all there!
We are thrilled to introduce HAPPiFEET Decatur app on your Google Play or Apple App Store! HAPPiFEET Decatur is Decatur Parks and Recreation’s newest app to help you share comments and concerns about our parks and facilities. HAPPiFEET Decatur makes it easy for you to share information with us to help make our parks experiences even more enjoyable! Download now and tell us what you love about parks or facilities you often visit, or provide input for Decatur Recreatur – our Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
This app is exclusively for Decatur’s Parks and Recreation Master Plan and does not take the place of the SeeClickFix Decatur app.