KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – The City of Knoxville is rolling out a new $80,000 initiative to combat invasive plant species in its park system, beginning with kudzu removal at Fort Dickerson Park and areas near Augusta Quarry.
The effort, approved by City Council and largely funded through a Tennessee Department of Forestry grant, will target one of the region’s most aggressive invasive plants. Kudzu, originally introduced from Asia, can grow up to a foot per day during the summer and quickly overtake native vegetation.
City officials estimate that between 15 and 25 acres of kudzu need treatment at Fort Dickerson Park alone. Certified contractors will use EPA- and FDA-approved herbicides designed to eliminate fast-growing invasive species while sparing native plants…