Church Breaks Ground on Clean Air Minnesota Natural Landscaping Project

In July, the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in St. Louis Park began planting and preparation of the site of one of the Twin Cities most ambitious natural landscaping projects. The congregation is trading their 1.1 acres of traditional mowed grass for prairie grass, wildflowers, and burr oak trees. Replacing grass with indigenous prairie eliminates the need for mowing, along with the harmful air emissions produced by mowing. The project is a natural landscaping demonstration for Clean Air Minnesota.

In July, the Lutheran Church of the Reformation in St. Louis Park, began planting and preparing the site of one of the Twin Cities most ambitious natural landscaping projects. The congregation at Lutheran Church of the Reformation is trading their 1.1 acres of traditional mowed grass adjacent to Highway 100 for prairie grass, wildflowers, and burr oak trees as part of a multi-year effort to restore the natural oak savanna landscape that once dominated in the region.

The Lutheran Church of the Reformation elected to participate in the landscaping demonstration as part of the congregation’s commitment to creation stewardship. Replacing grass with indigenous prairie grasses and wildflowers eliminates the need for mowing, along with the harmful air emissions produced by mowing and landscape trimming equipment. The prairie restoration will also enhance the water quality of nearby lakes since soon-to-be installed rain gardens and grasses naturally filter out debris and harmful runoff from streets and parking surfaces.

The project is a natural landscaping demonstration for Clean Air Minnesota. MCEA and the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce co-chair a coalition called Clean Air Minnesota, which promotes voluntary actions by business, individuals, government and other organizations to reduce pollutants that contribute to air pollution (smog) in the Twin Cities. For health and environmental reasons we want to reduce harmful ground level ozone emissions and particulate matter. For economic reasons we want to take action now to avoid federal non-attainment status, which could cost Minnesota businesses millions of dollars in federally mandated pollution control measures in order to meet federal air quality standards.

(Photo: Future site of one of the three rain gardens that will be installed at the church. Rain gardens will help filter contaminants from stormwater run-off and run-off from the church parking lot, improving water quality in nearby lakes.)

The Metropolitan Council and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District are providing financial support for the prairie restoration. The Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy and Applied Ecological Services are offering legal and technical assistance to the congregation.

For more information please contact Pastor Dennis Ormseth at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, 952-929-0439, or visit the church online at: http://www.reformationslp.org

More information on Clean Air Minnesota is available at http://www.mn-ei.org/air/index.html or by calling Outreach Manager Colleen Coyne at 612-334-3388 ext. 109. Clean Air Minnesota is a program of the Minnesota Environmental Initiative.

For more information, contact:
Mark TenEyck, Advocacy Director
(651) 223-5969
mteneyck@mncenter.org