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• The aesthetics of landscape design are subjective.

Strategies

• Balance various viewpoints regarding the benefits and aesthetics of using native plants in landscaping design.

• In natural areas, such as buffers and stream corridors, native plants should be the preferred choice. In formal landscape beds native plant material will be used when deemed appropriate.

• In areas designated for development, volunteers groups such as the Plant Salvage Team can help salvage native and rare plants. Efforts should be made to transfer the plants to either landscape beds or natural areas on public lands. Trained personnel must be involved in this effort, due to their understanding of individual plants’ needs.

• Continue educational activities, including the Earth Week activities that focus on native plantings and working with school and volunteer groups to help plant areas.

• Encourage preservation and restoration of existing native plant associations and formation of new communities, which includes

improving areas in which native plants have deteriorated due to development or former farming practices.

• Improve and supplement existing buffer areas.

• Rescue forbs and woody plant material from developing areas.

• Follow landscaping practices that encourage and develop habitat diversity, provide erosion control, and protect endangered and potentially endangered species as identified by ODNR.

Policy 10: Perform ongoing tree inventory

Issues

• There currently are more than 14,000 trees in the City’s park inventory.

• Maintaining and growing an effective inventory is time consuming and has budget ramifications.

Strategies

• Perform ongoing tree inventory activities using GPS and GIS system.

• Assure that adequate numbers of staff are trained to perform all aspects of tree inventory.

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