Prescribed burning in your neighborhood

Weather permitting, in March, April and May each year, the Park Maintenance Division of the Parks and Recreation Department, in coordination with the Bloomington Fire Department and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, conduct prescribed burns to restore native prairies, wetlands and park landscapes within the City of Bloomington.

The Benefits of Prescribed Burns

Prescribed burns do a lot of good, including:

• Remove built-up thatch material and weed seeds.
• Invigorate new growth and seeding of desirable native plants, trees and wildflowers.
• Help to control invasive tree and shrub species that threaten species native to the ecosystem.
• Minimize the spread of pest insects and disease.
• Improve habitat for threatened and endangered species.
• Reduce hazardous fuels, protecting human communities from extreme fires.

Park Maintenance has developed a three- to five-year burn rotation plan that encompasses park areas in Bloomington that meet the requirements and restrictions established by the Minnesota DNR, state legislation and City ordinance. 

To minimize risk to residents and property, prescribed burns are conducted only when:

• Fuel in the burn area is dry.
• Wind velocities are moderate, 5 - 15 MPH, in a direction that results in the least amount of smoke impact on the residential area.
• Humidity is 35% - 80%.
• Air temperature is 32° - 65° F.

Because of these variables, the exact timing may not be known until the day before or the day of the burn. Staff will go door to door in an attempt to notify residents directly adjacent to the burn area on the day of the burn.

2024 Prescribed Burn Locations

The following have been identified as primary locations for 2024. 

• Bill Warren Park (cattle pass) – Bloomington Ferry Rd. & Aquila Rd. 
• Bloomington Ice Garden – 3600 W. 98th St.
• Bloomington Civic Plaza – 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd.
• Bloomington Public Works – 1700 W. 98th St.
• Bush Lake Beach - 9140 E. Bush Lake Rd.
• Dwan Golf Course – 3301 West 110th St.
• Girard Lake Park – 8401 France Ave. S.
• Heritage Hills Park North – 4701 W. 102nd St.
• Historic Gideon and Agnes Pond House - 401 E. 104th St.
• Hopkins Landing - 10800 Nicollet Ave. S.
• Hyland Hills Park – 9900 Dakota Rd.
• Marsh Lake Park North – France Ave. S. & W. 98th St.
• Marsh Lake Park South – France Ave. S. & W. 98th St.
• Nine Mile School – 1701 W. 106th Street
• Nord Myr Marsh - 8601 Normandale Blvd.
• Normandale Lake Park South – W. 84th St. & Normandale Blvd.
• Parker's Picnic Grounds - 10401 Columbus Rd.
• Tarnhill Park – 9650 Little Rd.
• West Bush Lake Park – W. 95th St. & West Bush Lake Rd. 

The goal, weather permitting, is to complete burns between March 11 and May 31.  Some addresses above are not exact, but are intended to provide an approximate location.