Glencoe Park District issued the following announcement on May 3.
Bees, which are responsible for pollinating the plants, trees, and one-third of the world’s produce, are in serious decline in the country. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has found that 50 percent fewer bees live in the U.S. than did 30 years ago. Scientists and advocates fear the species will soon become extinct.
On Sunday, April 29, two honeybee hives were added to the Glencoe Park District greenhouse area, behind Jerry Reinsdorf Field.
"As the Park District, we strive to be a leader in environmental sustainability. Our Board and staff recognize the crucial role honey bees play in our environment and the real danger that colony collapse disorder poses to the overall health of the United States as a whole. By bringing honeybees to Glencoe, we are playing an important role in maintaining and enhancing our ecosystem," said Chris Leiner, Director of Parks.
Glencoe Park District partnered with Sweet Comb Chicago, a Chicago apiary that was established three years ago to help bees by providing them with a diverse range of nectar away from the monocultures created by big industry, said Martin Lopez, Sweet Comb Chicago's founder. In 2016, the Oak Brook Park District piloted a similar program with Sweet Comb Chicago.
Beehives are not the only environmentally-friendly feature added to Jerry Reinsdorf Field this season. The 5-acre park now features a new walking path and two new bioswales. Path users can complete a mile in five short laps.
The bioswales will act as a water source for the bees, as well as natural habitat for birds and butterflies. In addition, the bioswales will migrate stormwater pollutants and reduce standing water (which attracts mosquitoes).
“Parks serve a critical role in providing healthy habitats for people, wildlife, and plants. Our improvements at Reinsdorf Field are beneficial to all living things in our community,” said Leiner. The bees will be housed in custom-built hives in a location of the greenhouse that is away from the softball field and walking paths. The hives, provided by Sweet Comb Chicago, are constructed of red cedar, a durable material ideal for withstanding wet Chicago-area winters.
Leiner assured there's no reason for Glencoe residents to be concerned that the addition of the bee colonies will spark incidents of people being stung.
"The flight path for honeybees is 20 to 30 feet above the ground," he said. "These also are not aggressive bees."
Lopez estimates that each of the bee colonies in Glencoe could produce 50 to 80 pounds of honey per year. Sweet Comb Chicago will inspect the hives throughout the season and make harvest recommendations, based on the health of each individual colony.
Once the hives have produced enough honey to be harvested without risking the health of the colony, the community will have the opportunity to purchase the honey and support the Glencoe Park District’s C.A.R.E. Scholarship.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Glencoe Park District
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