Missoula residents push for pesticide transparency in city parks

Missoula, Mont. — Pesticide use in Missoula parks and green spaces became a growing issue as residents asked city leaders for more transparency and organic land care options.

Residents raised those concerns during public comment at Missoula City Council meetings. They urged the city to adopt an official organic land care policy for parks and playing fields.

Advocates said they were worried about long-term exposure to chemicals used in places where families and children spend time.

Alison Reintjes with Grow Safe: Nontoxic Missoula said the group had spent years meeting with parks staff and the city about the issue.

“So in nine years of meeting with parks and the city, I hear that their values align with pesticide-free parks and that they understand the risks of the toxic chemicals that are currently being used,” Reintjes said. “But we're still waiting for action. And that means policy, a transition timeline and change in the land management practices.”

Missoula Parks and Recreation Director Marina Yoshioka said in a statement that herbicide use in developed parks was minimal and tightly controlled.

The statement said products were never applied near playgrounds, splash decks, picnic shelters or dog parks.

The city also said conservation lands in open spaces came with different challenges tied to invasive noxious weeds. Those areas were managed with targeted herbicide use as well as grazing, hand-pulling and revegetation.

The discussion in Missoula centered on how public spaces are maintained and whether the city should make changes to its approach.