Fall in Alabama is a time for beautiful blue skies. And efforts are underway to have the centerpiece pond at Avondale Park match that crystal color.
The Birmingham Park and Recreation Board recently issued a purchase order for Alabama Aquarium & Pond Services to begin regular maintenance and weekly dye treatments of the Avondale Park pond.
The first water treatment took place Oct. 12, and the results already are noticeable. While it is expected to take at least a month for these efforts to have an effect on the algae that often coats the surface, the murky water color began clearing within a week or so.
According to Alabama Aquarium and Pond Services, the bluish-black dye used in the treatment cuts down on the amount of sunlight that reaches the bottom of the pond. This in turn limits plant growth along the bottom, which in the long run will reduce algae on the surface. There are no chemicals in the dye, so it will not harm other flora and fauna in and around the pond.
In addition, the maintenance agreement includes biweekly trash pickup from a boat. So even trash that accumulates around the island can be removed. Before long, we expect visitors to the park will be greeted consistently with a clean, clear pond that sparkles under the sun.
The Friends of Avondale Park would like to give a big thank-you to Birmingham Parks and Rec Facilities Manager Charles Brundidge, who helped coordinate the agreement, as well as our new friends at Alabama Aquarium & Pond Services for helping make the park as beautiful as an autumn sky.