Thursday, June 19, 2025
#1 News Source in Sebastian, Florida
SIGN UP FOR FREE NEWSLETTER
Sebastian Daily
  • News
    • All News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Crime
    • Events
    • Food
    • Health
    • Health Inspections
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Restaurants
    • Schools
    • Traffic
  • Discover
    • Indian River Lagoon
    • Moving to Sebastian, Florida
    • Skydiving in Sebastian, Florida
    • Sebastian Riverfront
    • Things to do in Sebastian, Florida
    • What’s it like living in Sebastian, Florida
    • 2024 Sebastian Business Awards
      • Best Pubs in Sebastian
      • Best Restaurants in Sebastian
    • 2023 Sebastian Business Awards
      • Best Restaurants in Sebastian
      • Best Bars in Sebastian
      • Best Diners in Sebastian
      • Best Music in Sebastian
      • Best Pizza in Sebastian
      • Best Pubs in Sebastian
      • Best Subs in Sebastian
      • Best Veterinarian in Sebastian
    • 2022 Sebastian Business Awards
      • Best Restaurants in Sebastian
      • Best Bars in Sebastian
      • Best Diners in Sebastian, Florida
      • Best Music in Sebastian
      • Best Pizza in Sebastian
      • Best Pubs in Sebastian
      • Best Sub Sandwiches in Sebastian
      • Best Veterinarians in Sebastian
      • Best Wings in Sebastian
  • Newsletter
  • Calendar
  • Fishing
  • Obituaries
  • Weather
  • Advertising
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • All News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Crime
    • Events
    • Food
    • Health
    • Health Inspections
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Restaurants
    • Schools
    • Traffic
  • Discover
    • Indian River Lagoon
    • Moving to Sebastian, Florida
    • Skydiving in Sebastian, Florida
    • Sebastian Riverfront
    • Things to do in Sebastian, Florida
    • What’s it like living in Sebastian, Florida
    • 2024 Sebastian Business Awards
      • Best Pubs in Sebastian
      • Best Restaurants in Sebastian
    • 2023 Sebastian Business Awards
      • Best Restaurants in Sebastian
      • Best Bars in Sebastian
      • Best Diners in Sebastian
      • Best Music in Sebastian
      • Best Pizza in Sebastian
      • Best Pubs in Sebastian
      • Best Subs in Sebastian
      • Best Veterinarian in Sebastian
    • 2022 Sebastian Business Awards
      • Best Restaurants in Sebastian
      • Best Bars in Sebastian
      • Best Diners in Sebastian, Florida
      • Best Music in Sebastian
      • Best Pizza in Sebastian
      • Best Pubs in Sebastian
      • Best Sub Sandwiches in Sebastian
      • Best Veterinarians in Sebastian
      • Best Wings in Sebastian
  • Newsletter
  • Calendar
  • Fishing
  • Obituaries
  • Weather
  • Advertising
No Result
View All Result
Sebastian Daily
No Result
View All Result
Home Community News in Sebastian, Florida

Friendship Park in Sebastian closes due to fire ant infestation amid pesticide ban

Andy Hodges by Andy Hodges
Jan 22, 2020 / 11:38 AM
A A
Friendship Park in Sebastian, Florida.

Friendship Park in Sebastian, Florida.

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via Email

Friendship Park in Sebastian has officially been closed due to a fire ant infestation, that could have been avoided.

“Tonight we will discuss lifting the moronic pesticide ban in our parks, but I fear common sense will not prevail with this council,” City councilman Jim Hill told Sebastian Daily.

“They will likely insist that we not treat our parks, as we have for decades because it’s not safe. Total lies made up to scare the public. This will only continue to get worse, and our parks will continue to deteriorate before our eyes,” Hill added.

Some residents have already voiced their concerns about the infestation.

“That’s where my daughter’s soccer team practices; it is the only lighted field we have been allowed to practice and condition. We only have 4-5 more weeks of daylight savings and until our first game. Not sure what we will do now that we have nowhere to practice,” April Knittle Rizzotti said.

“My kids use this park for soccer practice as they will not allow us to use any other lighted park (barber street sports complex) in Sebastian, and we do not have lights to practice on our own field. These parks are all our kids have in this area,” Keira Warren Eidem said.

On November 25, 2019, the city council voted 4 to 1 to a temporarily ban using herbicides and pesticides.

“The council passed a ban on using herbicides & pesticides with no spraying on the wastewater system for one year, a 120-day hold on parks, and limit spraying within 10 feet of any body of water on the golf course,” Mayor Ed Dodd told Sebastian Daily.

Council members Damien Gilliams, Pam Parris, Charles Mauti, and Mayor Ed Dodd voted for the ban. Jim Hill did not.

“I regret to inform you that the Sebastian City Council has decided to stop maintaining our beautiful parks, except for mowing them. This will make the ball fields unusable very soon and fill the playgrounds with fire ants instead of children. There was no research or scientific data used to make this decision. I voted against this disaster but am alone up there and need help getting the word out,” Hill said during the meeting last November.

In 2013, the City of Sebastian reduced the use of herbicides by over 50 percent at the request of some residents. The measure has caused the overgrowth that is seen in our system today.

The previous city council tasked City Manager Paul Carlisle with looking for alternatives to using glyphosate in our waterways. However, they wanted to test the alternatives without a ban.

“There was never a discussion about a full-on ban of all pesticides. Just Roundup. All the pesticides we use are tested and approved by several organizations and deemed safe for use,” Hill said.

Hill also suggested that some of the council members are being pushed by groups outside Sebastian.

“This is all just scare tactics to move forward radical policies, and they are being pushed by groups outside Sebastian because they have control over certain council members,” Hill said.

So far, during the ban, Carlisle has been actively testing the new alternatives. However, these new alternatives will come at a high cost, and will most likely raise taxes in Sebastian.

On December 11, 2019, Carlisle provided a herbicide report that included a product called W.O.W., which has shown excellent results. Carlisle said that the product appears to be the best non-toxic alternative to Roundup.

Also, on December 31, 2019, Mayor Dodd scheduled some workshops for residents to discuss pest control management systems and presentations. The next one is scheduled for Thursday, January 23, 2020, at 1:30 p.m.

Dodd also spearheads the Sustainable Sebastian Initiative, which will launch on Earth Day 2020.

The next city council meeting is tonight, Wednesday, January 22, 2020, at 6:00 p.m. One of the topics being discussed is lifting the bans. The public is encouraged to attend the meeting and voice their concerns.

“This is the first of many parks that will be rendered unusable if these radical, leftist policies are allowed to continue,” Councilman Hill stated.

FEATURED EVENTS

To add your event, call 772-925-5221.
Jun 19
4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Event Series

Hypersona Duo at Capt Hirams Resort (Sandbar)

Jun 19
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Karaoke at Tiki Bar & Grill

Jun 19
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Beautiful Bobby Blackmon at Earl’s Hideaway Lounge

Jun 20
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Will Goulet at Tiki Bar & Grill

Jun 20
1:30 pm - 4:30 pm

Blockbuster Movie Day at North IRC Library

View Calendar
Previous Post

Letters to the Editor for January 21, 2020

Next Post

Bob Bedea Resigns from Sebastian’s Natural Resource Board Amid Controversy

Next Post
Robert Bedea resigns from Natural Resources Board in Sebastian, Florida.

Bob Bedea Resigns from Sebastian's Natural Resource Board Amid Controversy

HOMETOWN NEWS

Gary William Mislick, 83, of Sebastian Florida – Obituary

Sebastian’s Top Weekend Events for June 20-22

Indian River County Sheriff’s Office Seeks Community Support for Budget Increase

Seafood, BBQ & More: June 16th-22nd Resturant Specials in Sebastian

Florida Bolsters Child Protection Laws with New Legislation

Father’s Day Food & Drink Specials in Sebastian

INFORMATION

  • About Us
  • Advertise Your Business
  • Contact Us
  • Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Signup for Newsletter

CONTACT

Main Number:  772-925-5221.

© 2025 Sebastian Daily. All Rights Reserved. Sebastian Daily® is a registered trademark of Sebastian Daily, LLC.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • All News
    • Business
    • Community
    • Crime
    • Events
    • Food
    • Health
    • Health Inspections
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Restaurants
    • Schools
    • Traffic
  • Discover Sebastian
    • Indian River Lagoon
    • Moving to Sebastian, Florida
    • Sebastian Riverfront
    • Skydiving in Sebastian, Florida
    • Things to do in Sebastian, Florida
    • What’s it like living in Sebastian, Florida
    • 2024 Sebastian Business Awards
      • Best Pubs in Sebastian
      • Best Restaurants in Sebastian
    • 2023 Sebastian Business Awards
      • Best Bars in Sebastian
      • Best Diners in Sebastian
      • Best Music in Sebastian
      • Best Pizza in Sebastian
      • Best Pubs in Sebastian
      • Best Restaurants in Sebastian
      • Best Subs in Sebastian
      • Best Veterinarian in Sebastian
    • 2022 Sebastian Business Awards
      • Best Bars in Sebastian
      • Best Diners in Sebastian
      • Best Music in Sebastian
      • Best Pizza in Sebastian
      • Best Pubs in Sebastian
      • Best Restaurants in Sebastian
      • Best Sub Sandwiches in Sebastian
      • Best Veterinarians in Sebastian
      • Best Wings in Sebastian
  • Newsletter
  • Calendar
  • Fishing Report
  • Obituaries
  • Weather
  • Advertising

© 2025 Sebastian Daily. All Rights Reserved. Sebastian Daily® is a registered trademark of Sebastian Daily, LLC.