Smolenski Park and the Seed Idea
Its hard to image walking over a bridge inside Smolenski Park in December and seeing a prairie rich in plant diversity and teaming with pollinators. Yet four years ago, we embarked on a partnership with the Village of Mount Pleasant with a clear vision to restore 15 acres inside the park. The vision was to create a pollinator paradise that would also filter and slow runoff to the North Branch of the Pike River. At the time, Root-Pike WIN had just overcome some significant operational challenges and began embracing a new approach – different from any other in our 20-year history. This new “seed idea” needed a win, and Mount Pleasant gave us a chance.

In a past life, seed idea was the term used to describe the inspirational morsel creative teams would use to grow their entire campaign, event or promotion. Today, for the broken Lake Michigan rivers we help restore, the seed idea takes on a much deeper and symbolic motivation to me, our organization and the watersheds we serve. 
15 Acres of Native Prairie Seed was Planted Today in Smolenski Park
Approximately 10:30 this morning, a tractor pulling a drill seeder made its way into the fallow farmland within Smolenski Park. The operators from Tallgrass Restoration began inserting 40 different varieties of native grasses and flowers into the lightly frozen soil. The long and sometimes difficult process of planning the project, gaining approvals, raising the funds, coordinating the scope of work, selecting the contractor, rescheduling due to weather, managing the risks, compiling the grant reports, and overseeing the site preparation was over. The goal of a richer, more diverse pollinator habitat and passive recreational area was now a giant step closer to completion. Next spring, the oasis is set to bloom.
Leaving a Legacy - Kids (and Pollinators) Love to Explore These Passive Places
The seed idea also includes the motivation to leave a legacy or seed bank so that our diminishing natural assets are preserved for generations to enjoy and experience. As the seed mixes were being prepared today, I walked the normally uneventful area with my four-year old daughter Anna. She made many discoveries – including a “potato rock” and her fruit snack wrapper she dropped earlier. Hands held, I reconnected to the reason for our mission. We have set out to leave the Root-Pike basin landscape better than when we got here – for my kids, your family, the community and the generations that follow. Clean water is a basic need and native plants are critical to the storage and filtration process. 
The Smolenski Park Prairie is Located in the Village of Mount Pleasant
Our seed idea – restoring our Watersheds through Initiative and Networking (WIN) with EPA/DNR-approved watershed restoration plans – is working. True, this project is a mere 15 acres within the thousands of acres of the basin that need help. Yes, it will take three to five years for the prairie to reach maturity. Is there so much more to do to get our rivers off the EPA’s 303d impaired list ? Indeed. Are we in a better position than four years ago to make more of these types of projects happen? Absolutely.
Spreading the Seed Idea - Tallgrass Restoration Workers Plant the Trail System
Our seed idea did not grow without the multitude of partnerships that have brought the Smolenski Prairie project, and many others, to reality. From elected officials to the parks committee to the development leaders to the public works staff, we owe a dept of gratitude to the Village of Mount Pleasant. We also want to highlight the support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services and the Fund for Lake Michigan – they have been essential to so many of our partnerships. Finally, I want to recognize our former Board President, Bill Sasse, for his technical expertise and guidance in moving the project forward. His fingerprints are all over our success.

As we come to the end of year, I want to express our appreciation to our partners, members, stakeholders, volunteers and grantors who have also contributed to our seed idea . It’s incredible that tiny little kernels can have such transformational and symbolic effects on our environment, economy and wellness. The same can be said of the time, treasure and talent you have contributed to Root-Pike WIN . 

Dave Giordano
Executive Director
262-496-2199
The Root-Pike Basin Watersheds
Root-Pike Watershed Initiative Network
Office: 800 Center St Room 118, Racine, WI 53403
Mail: PO BOX 044164, Racine, WI 53404