In 2025 the Friends of Greenview and Pioneer Nature Area was actively involved in various stewardship activities to restore and enhance the natural features and beauty of this wonderful community open space. We organized community work days and educational events throughout the season. The generous donations and grants allowed us to buy native seeds and plants, to and engage a professional consultant to conduct restoration projects, and guide our overall strategy to improve the nature area.
Here are highlights of the stewardship activities completed so far by Friends of Greenview in 2025.
Park Steward Update
Dave Rink, our park steward, made significant progress this year tackling invasive species such as buckthorn, Canadian thistle, and honeysuckle. His efforts focused along Seventh Street to Stadium Boulevard, the Pine Grove area, and the Glen Leven entrance. Dave worked alongside interns Brandon, Justin, and Luke to clear large patches of thistle in the meadows, making a real impact on habitat health. Looking ahead to next year. Dave will continue focusing on invasive species removal, trail maintenance with special attention to repairing the trail east of Glen Leven entrance, and additional planting and seeding in newly cleared areas to support forest regeneration. A wood chip day is also planned to help keep trails in good condition. If you see Dave working on the trails, please thank him for his hard work and the extensive improvements he has made to our valued nature area.
Volunteer work hour
October 11, 2025
Friends of Greenview and Pioneer Nature Area held a volunteer work hour on Saturday, October 11. Volunteers dragged previously cut buckthorn limbs to an area near S. Seventh St. This area of planned restoration lies beneath a grove of Scotch Pine trees planted by Boy Scouts from Dicken Elementary School in 1963. The buckthorn removal will improve the health of these pine trees and will provide opportunities for replanting with native understory species.
Evening Nature Walk Hosted by Friends of Greenview
September 19, 2025
In mid-September, when the grasses and prairie flowers were at their peak, Friends of Greenview hosted an evening walk through the nature area. Volunteers led a tour of the Pollinator Garden and the meadow, sharing information about the native plants and animals that thrive there. Along the way, Friends of Greenview also shared information about their ongoing activities and restoration efforts at Greenview.
Butterfly and Wildflower Tour
July 19, 2025
On July 19, Friends of Greenview and Pioneer Nature Area, in conjunction with Ann Arbor Farm & Garden, hosted a Butterfly and Wildflower Tour in the central meadow and Pollinator Garden.
We’re grateful to local butterfly experts Marcy Breslow and Judy Lobato for leading the tour and sharing their knowledge during butterfly observations. Thank you to everyone who joined us.
Planting Native Shrubs and Trees with Pioneer HS Students
April 23, 2025
Pioneer High School AP Biology students planted 150 native tree and shrub bare root seedlings in the areas surrounding the pond and wetland. The students planted a variety of native species that are well-suited to wet conditions. This area was recently cleared of invasives, and these plants—buttonbush, pussy willow, river birch, spicebush, nannyberry, witchhazel, American hazel, ninebark, and flowering dogwood—will help improve biodiversity and support local wildlife. After a quick tutorial on planting, the students got to work and did a great job planting and watering the shrubs.
Thank you to all the students for your help and enthusiasm! We look forward to watching these plants grow and contribute to biodiversity in the area.
Prescribed burn
March 2025
This year, controlled burns were carried out over several days when weather conditions were favorable, covering a total of about 6 acres.
Areas targeted included a section north of Scio Church Road and east of the Pollinator Garden, a portion of the meadow south of Pioneer Woods, and an area inside Pioneer Woods. Pioneer High School students had the opportunity to watch the prescribed burn and learn about this important land management tool.
Prescribed burns are a vital part of our conservation efforts. Carefully planned and executed, they help manage vegetation by discouraging weeds while promoting desirable plants, benefiting the overall ecosystem. These burns are conducted by environmental consultants and are made possible through generous donations and grants.
Volunteer work hour
March 2025
Friends of Greenview continues to clear invasive buckthorn in the area east of the Greenview pond. On March 22, FOG organized a workday, and a group of enthusiastic volunteers helped drag cut buckthorn limbs to the curb for disposal and assist with trash pickup in the park. Clearing this area will allow us to replace invasive species with native plants and create a new trail, enhancing the biodiversity and accessibility of the pond area.
Winter Seed Sowing
January 2025
Friends of Greenview volunteers have been sowing seeds during winter, scattering them on top of the snow! Many native seeds need cold, moist conditions to germinate, making this an ideal time to plant. This year, we focused on areas where we recently cleared invasive buckthorn east of the pond and overseeded the meadow to improve wildflower diversity.
Seed mixes, made from locally collected and purchased native plant seeds, were chosen to match each area’s conditions. The purchase of the seeds was made possible by generous donations. In the woods, we scattered shade-tolerant species and native grasses like Virginia Wild-Rye, Canada Wild-Rye, and Bottlebrush Grass to limit buckthorn regrowth and enhance biodiversity around the pond.
Ann Arbor Farm & Garden Awards Grant to FOG
March 2025
Friends of Greenview and Pioneer Nature Area are grateful to be recipients of a 2025 grant from Ann Arbor Farm & Garden! For 75 years, Ann Arbor Farm & Garden has supported the creation and maintenance of gardens and green spaces in our community. With their generous support, we will be able to conduct a controlled burn, purchase native wildflowers for the Pollinator Garden, and acquire seed and native plants for restoration around the Greenview pond.
Thank you, Ann Arbor Farm & Garden, for helping make this work possible!
Learn more about their mission at: https://www.annarborfarmandgarden.org
You can read about what we accomplished in 2024 here.