Friends of Dearborn Park

02/12/2026

Invasive Plant Removal Disposal

02/12/2026

Invasive Plant Removal Disposal

We wanted to ask a quick question that we’ve noticed coming up more often lately in the park and along the paths:

When invasive plants are removed, what’s the best practice for what happens next?

We ask because we’re seeing a pattern that’s worth talking about.

In several areas, invasive vines and shrubs have been cut back or pulled, which is great. That first step matters. But instead of being removed from the site, the cut material is often left right where it fell. Piled up. Sometimes neatly, sometimes not. Always still very much present.

At first glance, this can look harmless. The plants are cut, after all. Job done, right?

Unfortunately, with invasives, that’s rarely how it works.

Many of the most aggressive invasive plants in our area don’t need roots, soil, or much encouragement at all to keep spreading. English ivy, privet, vinca, and similar species can re-root from cut vines, nodes, or even small fragments left in contact with the ground. When cut material is left on the forest floor, especially in shaded or moist areas, it often survives long enough to reestablish itself. In some cases, it spreads even farther than before.

There’s also the issue of scale. Demonstration piles may seem contained, but over time they flatten, spread, and blend back into the landscape. What started as “removed” becomes “redistributed.” The visual signal to others is also confusing. It looks like the work is finished, when in reality the problem has just been paused.

Another concern is impact on the understory. Piles of cut invasive plants smother native seedlings, block light, and create exactly the kind of disturbed conditions invasives love. Native plants lose twice: first to the invasive growth, and then to the aftermath of partial removal.

So when we ask what best practice looks like, here’s what it generally includes:

• Removing invasive plant material fully from sensitive areas

• Drying it thoroughly off the ground where re-rooting isn’t possible

• Bagging or hauling it out when feasible

• Or staging it in a way that prevents regrowth and spread

None of this is about blame. Invasive removal is hard work, and we’re grateful for anyone willing to take it on. But how we finish the job matters just as much as starting it.

The goal isn’t just to cut invasives. The goal is to reduce their ability to come back.

So we’re asking, genuinely and publicly, because it’s an important conversation for the health of the park

How to dispose of invasive plants We wanted to ask a quick question that we’ve noticed coming up more often lately in the park and along the paths: When invasive plants are removed, what’s the best…

12/13/2025

Please Don’t Leave Pumpkins (or Food Waste) in Dearborn Park

Dearborn Park’s wooded areas and natural spaces are an important part of what makes our park special. Recently, we’ve noticed pumpkins and other food items being left in the woods, likely with good…

12/12/2025

🎃 Pumpkin PSA 🌿
Please don’t leave pumpkins or food waste in the woods or natural areas of Dearborn Park.
Even “natural” items can attract pests, disrupt wildlife, and introduce mold or non-native seeds.
Do this instead:
✔️ Home compost

❌ Not the park
Thanks for helping keep Dearborn Park healthy and beautiful 💚

11/26/2025

DeKalb County Parks and Recreation video

In every smile, every trail, every shared moment—our story lives.This is who we are: DeKalb Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs.

10/30/2025

🌿 Mulch & Mow — Don’t Blow! 🍂

It’s that time of year when the leaves start to fall and the leaf blowers start their annual roar. But here’s a quieter, greener option: mulch and mow your leaves instead!

✅ Saves Time: You can mow your yard once or twice and be done — no endless blowing and bagging.
✅ Saves Gas: Your mower uses less fuel than a blower marathon.
✅ Saves Your Ears (and your neighbors’): Less noise pollution means a more peaceful neighborhood.
✅ Feeds Your Lawn: Mulched leaves break down into free, natural nutrients — nature’s fertilizer!

So skip the leaf blower blues and roll with the mower. Your lawn (and the planet) will thank you. 💚

📸: Friends of Dearborn Park encourages you to Mulch & Mow — Don’t Blow!

Let’s make quiet the new cool. 😎

FriendsOfDearbornPark

10/30/2025

Mulch & Mow — Don’t Blow! 🍂 It’s that time of year when the leaves start to fall and the leaf blowers start their annual roar. But here’s a quieter, greener option: mulch and mow your leaves instead!...

Mulch & Mow — Don’t Blow! 🍂 It’s that time of year when the leaves start to fall and the leaf blowers start their annual roar. But here’s a quieter, greener option: mulch and mow your leaves in…

10/26/2025

Winter Concert Series by DeKalb Parks & Rec

❄️ Winter Concert Series is back! ❄️
Cozy up with the sounds of the season — live performances, festive vibes, and unforgettable music all winter long.

10/22/2025

HausZwei Homes: Investing in Midway Woods and the Dearborn Park Community As longtime supporters of Friends of Dearborn Park, HausZwei Homes is proud to help strengthen the neighborhoods surrounding this beloved green space. Our latest projects — on Beech Drive and Deerwood Drive — reflect our ongoing commitment to thoughtful design, quality renovation, and respect for Midway Woods’ mid-century character....

HausZwei Homes: Investing in Midway Woods and the Dearborn Park Community As longtime supporters of Friends of Dearborn Park, HausZwei Homes is proud to help strengthen the neighborhoods surroundin…

10/03/2025

DeKalb County came and indiscriminately cut down the Azaleas in Dearborn Park. I’m meeting with them today to see what happened and what can be done about it. These were planted 10 years ago by Friends of Dearborn Park. So sadden by this.

08/14/2025

Dekalb County is holding a public community meeting to present details and an update on the Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer Replacement project within Dearborn Park to community residents.

✅ Mark your calendar: Tue, Aug 19 at 6 p.m.

✅ Join on Zoom: https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/83451750252

✅ Send your questions ahead of time: [email protected]

Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer Replacement Project – Community meeting
6 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19

DeKalb County’s Department of Watershed Management is planning major improvements to our community’s watershed system as part of the County’s $4.27 billion capital improvement program. The Shoal Creek Trunk Sewer Replacement Project will address repeat sanitary sewer overflow areas and prepare our sewer system to meet demands for the next 50 years.

Dekalb County is holding a public community meeting to present details and an update on the project to community residents.

✅ Mark your calendar: Tue, Aug 19 at 6 p.m.

✅ Join on Zoom: https://dekalbcountyga.zoom.us/j/83451750252

✅ Send your questions ahead of time: [email protected]

This meeting is our opportunity to:

Learn about the scope and timeline of the project (preliminary work expected to start in 2026).

Hear directly from the engineering/design team (Atkins) working on behalf of DeKalb County.

Ask questions and share concerns.

The Midway Woods Association posted information on this project last year to our website in a post titled “Question and answers about the Shoal Creek Improvement project: November 2024,” but a number of details have been updated since then.

Let’s make sure Midway Woods is well-informed and represented at this important meeting!

Within Dearborn Park and Dearborn Park Trail, DeKalb County’s Department of Watershed Management is planning major improvements to our community’s watershed system as part of the County’s $4.27 bil…

08/09/2025

Update: DeKalb quickly came and put up a new sign.

Unfortunately someone has defaced signage in Dearborn Park with an offensive word. We have notified DeKalb Parks & Rec and hope they will take care of this as soon as possible.