Habitat Restoration Initiative (HRI)
The Habitat Restoration Initiative (HRI) is a grassroots, volunteer-driven project formed in 2021. Working in partnership with the Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department, HRI volunteers clear, plant, and maintain the weed-filled hillsides and rocky areas on the east and west sides of Hyde Park along Gillham Road, 36th Street to 38th Street.
This will be achieved by planting vigorous native plants that will fill in areas where grass will not grow and outcompete the invasive species thriving there now.
Our next Volunteer Work Day is Saturday, January 31. Meet at 1:00 p.m. at the Pilgrim Labyrinth & Butterfly Garden, 3701 Gillham Road.
The goal of this project is to eliminate the need for the Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation Department to spray glyphosate herbicide in these areas and increase wildlife habitat, as well as improve the appearance of the park. The only areas of the park affected by this plan are the bare or rocky areas that resist mowing and require herbicide to maintain.
This is a pilot project. Once proven successful, we hope to see this approach implemented on Parks land city-wide. It will be implemented and maintained for the first five years by volunteer and paid labor. Once established, the only maintenance the Parks Department will need to do is remove weed trees once or twice a year.
Supported by the Pilgrim Center (a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) community organization) that maintains the Pilgrim Labyrinth & Butterfly Garden, a native pollinator-support garden, in this same section of Hyde Park, Habitat Restoration Initiative is in year four of a five year planting and maintenance phase.
You can give to the Pilgrim Center to support this initiative and others like it by clicking here.
We want very much to include all of our neighbors and community members in this effort, so we are inviting you to join us!
If you would like to stay updated on this project, give your feedback, be notified of scheduled planning sessions and work days, or volunteer, please click here to complete our information form.
