St. Paul Parks and Recreation will begin to root out invasive species on hundreds of acres of parkland this year, setting the stage for future planting and preservation efforts.

More than 200 acres of flood plain forest at Crosby Farm Regional Park and more than 60 acres of woods and prairie at Cherokee Regional Park have been pinpointed for "enhancement" — a process of removing invasive species and replacing them with a mix of different species, from native grasses to shrubs and trees.

It's an effort "to bring back some of the native habitat in the area for not only wildlife value, but for visitor appreciation as well," said Adam Robbins, environmental coordinator for Parks and Recreation. The process starts in the spring, using about $300,000 in legacy grant funds, he said.

Also this spring, goats will return to Indian Mounds Regional Park to tackle invasive buckthorn. And Pig's Eye Regional Park — the city's largest park — will get 2,800 new trees. That project, a partnership with Mississippi Park Connection, will be paid for with part of an approximately $30,000 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Robbins said.

Grant money doesn't cover everything that needs to be done in the parks — the city relies on volunteers to get the work done. More than 800 people volunteered on park projects last year, according to St. Paul Natural Resources, a division of the parks department.

For more information about volunteering in 2018, visit www.stpaul.gov/departments/parks-recreation/natural-resources/volunteer-resources.

Emma Nelson • 612-673-4509