May 1, 2002

The Wildcats invaded Garrett Hill on Saturday, March 16th as an army of civic-minded Villanova University student-athletes joined ranks with Radnor's finest "enviroteers". The groups worked together in mowing down invasive plants as part of a hands-on Invasive Plants Workshop at Clem Macrone Park sponsored by Radnor's Parks and Recreation Department and Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC).

"Invasive plants are a serious threat to the health of our parks and waterways," commented 7th Ward Commissioner Dave Cannan, who represents the Garrett Hill and Rosemont sections of Radnor and is the commissioner liaison to Radnor's EAC.

"The expert training provided by the township's environmental consultant John Munro at these workshops will guide us toward success in the battle to free our parks of this environmental threat, as well as our own backyards."

Cannan had recommended the township hire John Munro Ecological Services as a permanent environmental consultant because of his well-known success using innovative and effective techniques to solve the environmental problems common to the area's municipal park systems.

"Invasive plants are non-native plants whose reproductive systems along with a lack of natural predators allow them to rapidly take over a woodland and deprive native plants of vital sunlight and nutrients," said Munro.

Munro estimates that of the thousands of alien plants that have been introduced to the United States, about 1400 are scientifically recognized as pests and currently about 94 kinds of foreign weeds are officially recognized as noxious weeds.

Assistant Coach Linda Goss started the morning leading over 20 members of Villanova's Softball team in removing an excessive overgrowth of Multiflora Rose and Japanese honeysuckle.

Not to be outdone, champion miler and Villanova's Men's Track & Field coach Marcus O'Sullivan marched out his 20-plus group of runners along with a similar-sized group from Coach Larry Sullivan's Men's Soccer team during the afternoon session.

Radnor Boy Scout Troop 284, under the supervision of scout leader Tom Masterson, also participated in the park clean-up.

Delighted by the turnout, Cannan noted, "I am proud of the hard work of the neighbors of Garrett Hill and Rosemont, our local Boy Scouts, the student-athletes of Villanova University, and our Public Works Department."

"While the main task was to rid Clem Macrone Park of invasives, more importantly we demonstrated a genuine partnership between Villanova University's athletics organization and our neighborhoods. This proves we can work together as we continually strive to make this a better community."