City Of Kirkwood, MO
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Free Kirkwood Parks from Invasive Species
Spring is Here, and so is the Honeysuckle!
Restoring Our Parks—Together
For years, the City of Kirkwood Parks & Recreation team—alongside dedicated volunteers—has been working to remove invasive bush honeysuckle from our parks.
Together, we’ve cleared more than 130 acres. That’s a meaningful step forward—but there’s still more work to do.
Our goal is simple:
Restore every park—one step at a time.
By removing bush honeysuckle, we’re making space for native plants to return. This helps create healthier habitats for wildlife and more beautiful, accessible parks for everyone to enjoy.
Where We’re Seeing Growth
Bush honeysuckle is still present in several parks across Kirkwood, including:
- Emmenegger Nature Park (11991 Stoneywood Drive)
- Kirkwood Park (111 S. Geyer Road)
- Greentree Park (2202 Marshall Road)
- Fireman’s Park (11804 Big Bend Road)
- Meramec Highlands Quarry at Dee Koestering Park (1703 Marshall Road).
Why Bush Honeysuckle is Removed
Bush honeysuckle is an invasive plant that harms our local parks and natural areas.
Originally brought to North America from Asia, it spreads quickly because it has no natural controls here. Over time, it forms dense thickets that take over woodlands, fields, and stream banks.
As it spreads, it crowds out native plants—like wildflowers, shrubs, and young trees. These native plants are essential. They provide food and habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.
When bush honeysuckle takes over, those natural systems begin to break down.
What This Means for Kirkwood
Healthy parks depend on a balance of native plants and wildlife. Removing invasive species like bush honeysuckle helps restore that balance and protect the spaces we all enjoy.
Learn More
Want to dig deeper? Explore these resources to learn how bush honeysuckle impacts our environment—and what we can do about it:
Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC)
Missouri Invasive Plant Force (MoIP)
BiodiverseCity St. Louis (Missouri Botanical Gardens)
Get Involved
Registration Coming Soon
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
Forest Aid: Adopt-a-Group at Emmenegger Nature Park
Help care for one of Kirkwood’s most treasured natural spaces. Volunteers meet on Sunday afternoons in the spring and fall to remove invasive plants and support forest restoration.
To get involved, contact:
Gwyn Wahlmann
Phone: (314) 984-5993 | Email: kparkv@kirkwoodmo.org