Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) – The City of Knoxville has begun an aggressive effort to remove invasive kudzu from Fort Dickerson Park, using targeted herbicide applications that city leaders say will improve habitat quality and restore native vegetation.
Crews applied the first round of herbicide about two weeks ago, and city officials say signs of progress are already visible, with sections of kudzu beginning to brown and die back.
The project, however, is drawing mixed reactions from nearby residents, with some praising the city’s efforts to eliminate the fast-growing vine while others worry about possible environmental impacts.
City Says Treatment Is Highly Targeted
Rachel Butzler, Knoxville’s director of public service, said the herbicide is being applied directly to kudzu leaves rather than sprayed broadly across the park.
According to the city, licensed contractors are performing the work and following all federal application guidelines.
“This is the same kind of chemical that some people might use in their backyard,” Butzler said. “We’re using a very targeted approach.”
The city says the treatment is designed specifically to affect kudzu without damaging surrounding trees and native vegetation.
“There shouldn’t have been overspray,” Butzler said. “It’s not impacting the other plants around it. It was targeting the kudzu specifically.”
Officials say two additional treatment rounds are expected later this year, with scheduling dependent on the first frost and the end of the growing season.
Long-Term Restoration Planned
Once the kudzu is substantially reduced, city crews plan to monitor the area and determine what vegetation returns naturally.
Butzler said the goal is to encourage native species already present in the soil’s seed bank while selectively treating other invasive plants that may emerge.
“We’re hopeful that a lot of native species are going to come up naturally,” she said.
The city will continue monitoring and treating new kudzu growth for the next two to three years.
Officials say the project reflects a shift from a passive management approach to a more active habitat restoration strategy intended to benefit both plants and wildlife.
Neighbor Supports City’s Approach
Neighboring property owner Bobby Smelcer said he understands the challenges posed by kudzu after battling the vine on his own land for years.
Smelcer said the invasive plant has killed several trees on his property and believes removing it will ultimately improve the health of the area.
“I’ve lost several trees because of the kudzu,” Smelcer said. “There are several different vines that will literally smother trees out and kill the trees.”
While he acknowledged concerns about chemical use, Smelcer said the rocky terrain around the former quarry makes mechanical removal nearly impossible.
“You either dig it out or you spray chemical on it to get rid of it,” Smelcer said.
He also said the current treatment plan appears more effective than previous efforts using goats to control the vine.
“The goats stripped the top of it off but didn’t do anything to the tubers,” Smelcer said. “I think they’re on the right track.”
Smelcer believes native plants and wildlife will ultimately benefit once the kudzu is removed.
Some Residents Concerned About Environmental Impact
Not everyone is convinced.
Larissa Vargas, who lives near the park, said she became concerned after learning about the herbicide application through social media.
“We have a pretty beautiful little ecosystem over there,” Vargas said.
She worries the chemicals could impact wildlife through the food chain and potentially affect soil, groundwater, and nearby streams.
“It just seems like it’s going to be a little domino effect of poison in the system,” Vargas said.
Vargas said she would prefer the city use alternative methods, including goats, mowing, or repeated cutting of the vines.
“There are natural ways to get rid of it,” she said.
City officials maintain that the treatment is being carefully controlled and applied only to the targeted vegetation.
State Grant Funding Project
The kudzu removal effort is part of an $80,000 project funded through a Tennessee forestry grant.
According to the city, the three-year initiative covers multiple Knoxville locations, including Fort Dickerson Park and the Third Creek area.
Officials say the long-term goal is to reduce invasive species, restore native habitat, and improve ecological conditions throughout the affected parklands.
