Medford City Council approves $427.5 thousand for vegetation management

Taylar Ansures October 24, 2023

Last Updated: October 24, 2023

MEDFORD, Ore. – The Medford City Council has approved the largest budget ever for blackberry removal in its city parks.

At the City Council meeting Monday night, A $427.5 thousand contract was approved for vegetation management throughout the city, including removal of the invasive Himalayan blackberries.

Medford Parks and Recreation director Rich Rosenthal says this will help his department continue to mitigate fire risk across all the parks in Medford.

“The city has invested over a million dollars over the past ten years to remove blackberries, reduce the fire risk along the corridors and the greenways in the parks system,” said Rosenthal.

Rosenthal says this two-year contract will allow the parks system to restore the natural landscape around creeks across the city, including the Bear Creek Greenway.

Taylar Ansures October 24, 2023

Taylar Ansures

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Taylar Ansures is a producer and reporter for NBC5 News. Taylar is from Redding, California and went to California State University, Chico. After graduating, she joined KRCR News Channel 7 in Redding as a morning producer. She moved to Southern Oregon in 2022 to be closer to family and became KTVL News 10’s digital producer. Taylar is currently finishing her Master's Degree in Professional Creative Writing through the University of Denver. In her free time, Taylar frequents independent bookstores and explores hiking trails across Southern Oregon and Northern California.