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SALEM -- The parks department will be reviewing options to address large mosquito populations in the parks.
During the parks commission meeting on Wednesday, Mayor Cyndi Baronzzi Dickey said the mosquito populations at the dog park and surrounding areas were "extremely high" this year, and that it has become difficult to use those spaces as a result. She asked if the parks department had considered fogging in the area or other options to help control the populations, noting that the school's cross-country team runs in the area, and several large events are held in that area like the Storybook Trail and the annual Trail of Treats.
Parks Commission President John Panezott said that the mosquito population in that section of Waterworth Memorial Park has always been higher than others, but the heavy rain and humidity this year had led to much higher populations than usual this year despite the department having taken steps which should help to curtail them like the installation of chimney swift towers.
Parks Director Kelli Pastore said that fogging the area would be prohibitively expensive as it is more than a mile in breadth and would require multiple treatments to prevent the population numbers from recovering.
Commissioner Lori Colian suggested that while fogging may not be feasible, the department could consider ecological options to help disperse the mosquitoes like installing bat boxes in the area or researching plants which repel mosquitoes that will grow in Ohio's climate to potentially plant around the area over time.
Pastore said that while the department researches potential options, she would ensure that reminders to bring and use insect repellent are posted on the department's social media accounts before events.
The commissioners also discussed potential regulations for riding E-bikes and electric scooters in the parks.
Pastore said that City Councilman Jeff Stockman asked the department to discuss any specific requirement for riding them within the parks while the city council was reviewing the city's e-bike ordinance. Pastore and the commissioners agreed that any groups riding together in the parks should be required to do so in a single file line and otherwise follow the same regulations of any motor vehicle.
Pastore also updated the commissioners on the department's partnership with the Columbiana County Suicide Prevent Coalition. She said that the department had received metal signs and vinyl stickers with the phone number for the crisis assistance hot line and a QR code which will provide people with resources for mental health and crisis assistance when scanned She said they will be posted in all of the parks.
Pastore said the department had also received informational pamphlets which will be stocked on notice boards and in the bathrooms. She explained that the pamphlets were being stocked in the bathroom as well to allow anyone who needs assistance to obtain it without needing to scan the QR code or take a pamphlet in public view.
The parks commission will meet next at 11 a.m. on Wednesday for a special meeting and will meet at 8 a.m. on Oct. 26 for its next regular meeting.