Hello Cedar Creek Park goers and City of Cedarburg residents!

I have been fortunate to live downtown for over a year and a half after moving from the Town of Cedarburg and think that this is just about the most charming community you could possibly ask for. I am extremely grateful to live here and care deeply about this city, which is why I'm asking the residents to speak up against the excessive use of direct application pesticides and herbicides in one of the only green public spaces left in this community.

The impetus to starting this petition occurred over the past couple days - two days ago (7/25) the parks department cut down all of the brush and milkweed on the sides of the creek, only days after Monarch butterflies officially were listed on the endangered species' Red List, and then direct use pesticides and herbicides were applied directly along the embankment of the creek the morning of 7/27. Not only am I aghast that the parks officials find it appropriate to spray toxic, cancer causing chemicals only 36 hours before the entire community is set to gather in the park for Summer Sounds and fireworks on Friday night, but that they also have no issues spraying these chemicals almost directly in the waterway.

This park is the hub of community events and activity throughout the entire summer: Summer Sounds on Friday nights, the 4th of July picnic, Strawberry Fest, weeks long day camps for children, graduation parties, summer weddings, family picnics, dog walkers, a beautiful venue for avid fishers, Country in the Berg, and so much more! By continuously spraying toxic chemicals we are endangering the health of every single person, plant, animal, and insect that sets foot in the park.

In an attempt to keep the park looking "nice," we are exposing our citizens, children, dogs, and visitors to chemicals that are a known link to Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, several types of cancer, organ damage, reproductive harm, and that's just the beginning. Children are most at risk because they are still growing and developing, and their bodies do not excrete or detoxify from pesticides nearly as quickly as adults. Ecologically, these pesticides and herbicides are poisoning the environment for all insects (including pollinators) and wildlife, and contaminate the soil, air, and water. This does not even begin to explain the scope of ecological disaster that these chemicals are responsible for. Several years ago the park underwent an almost $25 million dollar project to remove 80,000 tons of toxic sediment from the creek. It seems absurd that here we are, continuing the cycle of contamination, but this time with slightly different toxic chemicals. We are putting our entire community and environment at risk for aesthetic standards at the cost of health, and it's time for our community to say enough is enough. Please consider signing this petition to speak out against the use of pesticides and herbicides in our park and make the park a safer place for all of us. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I hope that together we can make a difference!

- Rachel

For more information on Monarch butterflies and their decline, you can learn more here.

For more information on pesticides and their interaction with human health, you can learn more here.

For more information on pesticides and their effects on the environment, you can learn more here.

For more information about the Mercury Marine dredging project, you can learn more here.